2010 Torbreck, The Laird, Barossa Valley, Australia
- Red
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- Syrah
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
- 98+/100
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Product: 20108125556
Description
In Scottish, 'The Laird' refers to the Lord of the Manor. A rare bottling only produced when conditions are right. This single vineyard Shiraz comes from the very old Gnadenfrei vineyard in the sub-region of Marananga in the Barossa Valley (now solely owned by Torbreck), considered to be among the finest vineyards in all of the Barossa. The first vintage was 2005 and 2010 represents only the 4th vintage produced to date. 2010 was an epic year in the Barossa and this is surely destined to be an icon.
A few hours coaxing from the glass reveals a smorgasbord of aromas, dark chocolate covered plums, crème de cassis. This rich exotic element balanced with notes of undergrowth, anise and hints of Lapsang Souchong. Bold and unashamedly mouth coating flowing onto a fine mid palate with bags of energy and precision from the outstandingly balanced acidity. An almost menthol like element flowing onto the persistent length. Opulent and harmonious all in one. A beauty now but give it 5 years to meld and soften and enjoy to 2035+.
Ben Upjohn, Fine Wine Sales Manager
According to Robert Parker, “Torbreck remains a Barossa Valley benchmark, as well as one of the world’s greatest wine estates.” The wines of Torbreck have a very strong Berry Bros. & Rudd staff following. We whole heartedly agree with Robert Parker (above) and Neal Martin when he says “….this is one of my favourite Australian wines, big and bold like many others, but each wine imbued with its own individuality.”
Torbreck is one of the most iconic estates in Australia and they craft a large yet quality-driven portfolio ranging from the deliciously dry Steading blanc and juicy Cotes du Rhone styled “Cuvee Juveniles” to the vinous colossi that are “RunRig” and “The Laird”. Balance is the key to these wines. This is a quality that often eludes the wines from hotter regions such as the Barossa Valley. With only good soil and middle age vines it is easy to make blockbuster reds in the Barossa; what is very difficult is to make wines with power combined with balance, lift and purity that comes with the very best old vines. It is this balance of power and purity that is the hallmark of Torbreck wines and, quite simply, this is why we like them so much. All the wines are impressive, and the estate deserves all the praise it gets.
A few hours coaxing from the glass reveals a smorgasbord of aromas, dark chocolate covered plums, crème de cassis. This rich exotic element balanced with notes of undergrowth, anise and hints of Lapsang Souchong. Bold and unashamedly mouth coating flowing onto a fine mid palate with bags of energy and precision from the outstandingly balanced acidity. An almost menthol like element flowing onto the persistent length. Opulent and harmonious all in one. A beauty now but give it 5 years to meld and soften and enjoy to 2035+.
Ben Upjohn, Fine Wine Sales Manager
According to Robert Parker, “Torbreck remains a Barossa Valley benchmark, as well as one of the world’s greatest wine estates.” The wines of Torbreck have a very strong Berry Bros. & Rudd staff following. We whole heartedly agree with Robert Parker (above) and Neal Martin when he says “….this is one of my favourite Australian wines, big and bold like many others, but each wine imbued with its own individuality.”
Torbreck is one of the most iconic estates in Australia and they craft a large yet quality-driven portfolio ranging from the deliciously dry Steading blanc and juicy Cotes du Rhone styled “Cuvee Juveniles” to the vinous colossi that are “RunRig” and “The Laird”. Balance is the key to these wines. This is a quality that often eludes the wines from hotter regions such as the Barossa Valley. With only good soil and middle age vines it is easy to make blockbuster reds in the Barossa; what is very difficult is to make wines with power combined with balance, lift and purity that comes with the very best old vines. It is this balance of power and purity that is the hallmark of Torbreck wines and, quite simply, this is why we like them so much. All the wines are impressive, and the estate deserves all the praise it gets.
Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2010
Alcohol % 15.5
Grape List Syrah
Body Full Bodied
Property Torbreck
Critics reviews
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW 98+/100
Very deep purple-black colored, Torbreck's 2010 The Laird offers an extraordinary perfume of Chinese five spice, sandalwood, rose petals, espresso and licorice over a core of prunes, dried mulberries and blackcurrant preserves plus a touch of cloves. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and packed with dried black fruits and exotic spice flavors, the generous fruit is structured with velvety tannins and just enough freshness. It finishes with commendable persistence.Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 29/06/2015
About this wine
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries. It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness. South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
Torbreck
Torbreck was established in 1994 and is located at Marananga on the western ridge of the Barossa Valley. It is named after a forest situated just south of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. Founded by David Powell, a former lumberjack who worked in various vineyards to hone his oenological skills, Torbreck’s first releases in 1997 of a 1995 Runrig (Shiraz/Viognier) and 1996 The Steading (Grenache/Mataro/Shiraz) were greeted with rapturous applause by critics and connoisseurs alike. The winery is overseen by Senior Winemaker Craig Isbel and his team. The overwhelming majority of his vines are dry-grown, nearly all are 100 - 165 years old and are tended and harvested by hand. The wines have an extraordinary combination of power, intensity, complexity and great finesse.
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Registered company 05492886. BB&R Limited, trading as Berry Bros. & Rudd, 3 St James's Street, London, SW1A 1EG. All rights reserved. You must be 18 or over to order. Calls may be recorded.
