Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, boysenberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, baking spices, dry powdery soils, dry stems, bramble and bright, fresh, fragrant purple florals. The palate is warm, lush, round and elegant. Tannins 65% resolved. It's still fairly big and very fresh. Palate fruits are; boysenberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries and raspberries haunting the background. Lifting warm spices, black pepper, black licorice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals with liqueur notes settling in at the mid point to the long finish. Dry stones, dry straw, tarry notes, violets, purple florals and palate raining acidity. The finish is long with good balance of fruit & earth. There's still nice tension, length and structure. The 05 still has another 7-10 years of good drinking ahead. As great as it was to be at the property tasting their new releases, it's a pleasure to enjoy one of their well aged wines back in the states. Photos of; the view from the new estate (love that red Barossa soil), tasting bar, Andrew Tierney, Torbreck International Sales Ambassador who hosted our visit(left) and Owner, David Powell (right). Producer history and notes...Torbreck Vintners was founded by David Powell in 1994. Before founding Torbreck, he worked for Robert O'Callaghan at Rockford Wines in the Barossa Valley. Rockford is an historic old winery and they love old historic wine relics...all you have to do is walk the property. In trying to start his own label, David lacked the funds to buy grapes outright. So, David began to share-farm a vineyard, a practice which involves working without pay until the grapes are sold, at which time the owner is paid a percentage of the market rate for his grapes and the share-farmer keeps the grapes for their own use. The share-farming principle or as we call it, sweat equity. This enabled Torbreck to obtain fruit from the very best vineyards in the Barossa Valley, while giving David Powell experience working in the vineyard and winery. In 1995 Powell crushed and fermented his grapes in a shed on his 12-hectare Marananga property; which continues to be home to the winery. The winery was named "Torbreck" after the forest in Scotland where Powell worked as a lumberjack. The first wine made under the Torbreck label was the 1995 RunRig. When it was released in 1997, Parker gave it a score of 95; which went a long way in launching Torbreck Vintners. Lisa, now Managing Editor at Robertparker.com raised that score to 98 in 2010. In late 2002, Torbreck was placed into receivership due to financial pressures on Powell from a divorce settlement. Torbreck was purchased by Australian businessman Jack Cowin for 6.5 million Australian dollars with Powell retained as winemaker and managing director. In 2008 Powell reacquired the estate in partnership with Peter Kight, the owner of Quivira Winery in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley in California. Torbreck produces around 70,000 cases of wine per year, depending on vintage conditions. 6.5 million Australian dollars is not a lot of money in today's environment...actually quite a deal. They had just completed their new facilities as shown in the photos two weeks prior to our visit in April. If you haven't had their wines, their lower price wines are very good at great values. Torbreck makes everything up to their high end RunRig at $300 plus a bottle with lots of quality wines in between that are really quite good and value priced vs. the rest of international market. — 9 years ago

Clive Williams

9.1

Recommend by my daughter Sophie who is ambassador for Malbec and this is a great one. Very eloquently described in earlier reviews. So if you see it drink it! — 10 years ago

Beki Mann

9.5

All grower bubbles to celebrate the New Year! This was new to me! A great rec from Lenny at Ambassador. — 10 years ago

Michael Kilgore

9.8

Might be the best rum I've had. Lot going on, but all working together. Not too spicy. What I always want cognac to be — 11 years ago

Matt Wilson

9.5

One of the best of Cahors. This wine should serve as ambassador to the sud-ouest. Complex, deep, black fruit aromas of cassis, plum, fig, leather and violets. Then, such balance and elegance on the palate with confident tannins and a determined finish. Power and concentration without high alcohol. I am in awe. — 11 years ago

John Kanellopoulos

9.0

What's not to like of this genuine left bank Bordeaux ambassador dark color, easy tannins, multiple earth and currant aromas opening a little light on the body felicitation nous amis Francais! — 9 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.8

@Ted Mandes @Christine @Steve Colanero I've been fortunate to meet Victor Blanquart on several occasions. He's an awesome guy, great brand ambassador and every time I've met him he's holding a bottle of Louis for us to taste!! I'm thinking of inviting him over for dinner 5 times a week!! All kidding aside, Louis is by far, my absolute "Go To" cognac for any occasion that I want to remember forever. The story of how it is made is amazing. Breathing it in ever so gently from the length of your arm will begin your journey through a field of flowers, as you approach the nose it transforms, deepens and reveals more of itself layer by layer for what appears to be an endless harmonious concerto. A single drop will literally create an explosion of tastes which again appears to go on endlessly. I scored it a 9.8 since I've never had the pleasure of tasting their legendary Rare Cask or their black pearl. I can even begin to imagine how this bottle could be any better!! Its that good and every time I enjoy a few ounces I consider it a privilege. Truly amazing. — 9 years ago

with Steve and Christine

Kimberly Anderson

8.9

Cherry nose. Anise nose. Very smooth. Drinks older than it is. — 10 years ago

Beki Mann

9.6

A Demi-sec that is barely so! So lovely with cheese and fruit. On rec from Lenny at Ambassador. — 10 years ago

Wendy Haas

8.9

Blurred by candlelight. Fun night with no power!! — 11 years ago

with Scott

Cindy Kobbe

10

I was first introduced to Rufino Moscato D'Asti in Dec 2014 while visiting The Ambassador Hotel in Kansas City, MO. It has become my favorite go-to Moscato wine. Love everything about it. — 11 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

10

Thanks so much to fellow Delectable member and Krug ambassador Garth for the excellent Krug seminar at K&L! This bottle was Krug ID 213032 and spent six years on the lees before being disgorged in spring of 2013. It is based on 2006 and composed of 11 vintages going back to 1990. The cepage is 44% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 21% Meunier. — 12 years ago

John Kanellopoulos

9.0

Superb: good body, maturity, balance partially matured tannins, a great ambassador for St Julien in Medoc! — 9 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Attending the Côtes du Coeur in Dallas. Was asked to be a brand ambassador for Montagu Wines, so I get to pour this weekend! Last night was the grand tasting...out of 18 or so wineries, two really stood out.

This was so freaking good. I know @Shawn R is a big fan of their stuff and this was my first time trying anything from Barnett (need to try their cab franc). This and the Macauley To Kalon were neck and neck for WOTN. Velvety in texture. Pure toasted oak, vanilla, black and blueberry pie. Superb balance. — 9 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

9.0

New world richness but with many layers - dark fruit, licorice, cigar box. A decadent treat! — 9 years ago

Vijay Vaidy

9.8

Hard to find a better ambassador for 2001 Napa style. I'm not sure these wine makers ever surpassed this era ... Unfortunately a bit premium priced these days, but worth dropping some $$$ for, more than the average peer — 10 years ago

Joel Pennington #❤️🐢🍷

Owner/Winemaker Slow Turtle Vineyard

9.3

Just finished pressing my '15 Champanel (which underwent cryomaceration - think Hans Solo in carbonite) and rewarded the Slow Turtle team with juice from Fausse Piste. Too good. — 10 years ago

with Jordan

Jennifer Ann Salyer

8.9

Viceroy at The Ambassador Hotel. — 11 years ago

with Chris

Pavle Milić

9.4

The fruit on the nose ripped the doorframe out of the closet. Vibrant, alive and focused. Great Russian River Valley ambassador. Classy. — 11 years ago

Barb Anderson

9.3

Unbelievable!!! — 13 years ago