Freddy R. Troya

10

Torbreck RunRig Shiraz–Viognier 2021
Barossa Valley, South Australia 🇦🇺

Overview: 
A monumental Barossa Rhône-inspired powerhouse blend of approximately 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier, delivering extraordinary depth, concentration, and architectural structure while retaining aromatic lift and finesse. This is Barossa at its most commanding yet disciplined, massive fruit density wrapped in precision, energy, and length. A wine that commands attention, rewards contemplation, and delivers relentless momentum from first sip to finish.

Aromas & Flavors: 
Explosive black plum, blackberry compote, cassis, and dark cherry saturate the nose, layered with violets, smoked spice, cocoa nib, graphite, and subtle savory meat tones. The palate unfolds in waves of black fruit intensity, crushed stone minerality, licorice, espresso, and warm spice, finishing long, deep, and persistently resonant.

Mouthfeel: 
Full-bodied, muscular, and impeccably structured with commanding tannins that feel polished rather than aggressive. Immense mid-palate density is balanced by freshness and lift, creating a sense of power without heaviness. The texture is authoritative, layered, and built for long-term evolution.

Food Pairings: 
Dry-aged ribeye or wagyu. Slow-braised lamb shank with rosemary and garlic. Venison with black cherry reduction. Smoked brisket. Aged hard cheeses such as Comté, Manchego, or aged Gouda.

Verdict: 
A truly elite expression of modern Barossa Shiraz, concentrated, complex, and unapologetically serious while remaining beautifully balanced and energetic. This is a reference-point wine that delivers immediate impact and exceptional cellar potential.

Did You Know?: 
RunRig is sourced from some of Barossa’s oldest and most revered Shiraz vineyards, with Viognier co-fermented in the traditional Northern Rhône style to enhance aromatic complexity, texture, and freshness.

🍷 Personal Pick: 
This wine completely captured my heart 100%, layered, commanding, and dangerously irresistible. One of those bottles that makes restraint impossible and reminds you why great wine can be genuinely emotional. A true benchmark experience.
— 9 months ago

eamon gallagher

8.9

Love me some AUS Barossa Shiraz — 6 years ago

Rick Legare

9.1

Delicious — 8 years ago

Pablo Garcia

9.0

Full of dark fruit, delicious creaminess, long finish.. at its peak I think. I am glad I opened it yesterday. This is the Shiraz — 8 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.4

Superb complexity and depth. — 8 years ago

Bill Price

9.0

A little spicy but pleasant finish. A good red — 9 years ago

with Mary

Scott Barber

Wine Educator Meadowood Napa Valley

9.3

This wine is showing why Henschke is at the top of Australian wine. Really good stuff — 11 years ago

Dirk Pitt.

9.0

Yep a #barossa Grenache. Easy drinking. Had a lightness and elegance to it. Good fruit structure and balance. The Tuesday night pizza wine. #aussiewine — 12 years ago

with Winehouse, Taylor and 1 other

Peter Roldan

9.6

Huge, classic Barossa Shiraz--loads of fruit but a bit more balanced now. — 12 years ago

Trish Barry

10

Nothing more to say about this wine except for AMAZING!!! — 13 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Torbreck The Descendant Shiraz–Viognier 2022
Barossa Valley, South Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A seductive, Rhône-inspired blend of approximately 92% Shiraz and 8% Viognier, showcasing aromatic lift, silkiness, and elegant power. The Descendant leans into finesse and perfume while retaining serious Barossa depth, delivering a beautifully polished expression that feels expressive, vibrant, and effortlessly compelling.

Aromas & Flavors
Lifted floral aromatics of violet, lavender, and rose petal lead, followed by ripe red and black berries, dark cherry, blueberry compote, and hints of baking spice and white pepper. The palate is silky and layered with juicy fruit, subtle savory notes, gentle cocoa, and a lingering floral-driven finish.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with a supple, flowing texture and refined tannin structure. The Viognier brings brightness and aromatic tension, keeping the wine lively, polished, and graceful despite its natural richness.

Food Pairings
Herb-crusted lamb rack. Duck breast with cherry or plum glaze. Grilled pork tenderloin. Moroccan-spiced lamb tagine. Semi-firm alpine cheeses or aged sheep’s milk cheeses.

Verdict
Elegant, aromatic, and beautifully balanced, this is a wine that highlights the sensual side of Barossa Shiraz while preserving depth and complexity. A compelling, refined expression that offers immediate pleasure and excellent aging potential.

Did You Know?
The Descendant follows the Côte-Rôtie tradition of co-fermenting Shiraz with a meaningful portion of Viognier, enhancing aromatic intensity, mouthfeel, and freshness while maintaining structural integrity.

🍷 Personal Pick
A stunning wine that delivers perfume, polish, and charm in every glass. An exceptional expression for those who love Rhône elegance layered onto Barossa generosity.
— 9 months ago

Jan de Weerd

9.8

Another amaaazing wine here in Down Under. The Basket Press only available to the ‘in’ members of Rockford winery. Rich flavors expressing from beginning to end in layers of dark, ripe fruits but firmly anchored by well rounded, soft tannins that carried the experience to a long lingering, pleasant finish. We had lunch with our friend who happened to ‘in’ 😊 with Rockford hence our opportunity to taste this wine and share it with other friends who had been admiring Rockford wines for 40 years. — 3 years ago

with Gareth, Andrea and 1 other

Tim Drury

9.6

Happy Father’s Day to me — 8 years ago

with Seema

Paul J

9.3

Steve G's Retirement Celebration!! — 9 years ago

with Steve

NM Wilson

9.5

2011 $100- cellar door
fab on own bought 2 — 10 years ago

Paul Taylor

9.1

Thick. Luscious and got plenty of legs. Love this blend — 11 years ago

Dirk Pitt.

9.0

#aussiewine — 12 years ago

with Winehouse and David

Monte Lewis

9.3

Full bodied, but not overbearing. — 12 years ago

Dirk Pitt.

10

Just a delicious Barossa Shiraz. A great life a head of it. — 13 years ago

David White

9.0

First bottle of 2021 rating tba — 9 months ago

Thomas Hillskog

9.0

At peak maturity. — 10 months ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Ripe, redfruited, earthy southern Rhône-style blend, smooth and rich, medium-long finish, needs a few years of cellaring, very nice!! — 3 years ago

with Jim

Kristen Kachel

9.3

Easy smooth red — 8 years ago

Nils Andersson

9.1

The palate is rich, round & soft with concentrated berry fruit & hints of anise. These flavours are enhanced by velvety tannins & spicy length of flavour on the finish.

Pepperjack Barossa Shiraz is a blend of Shiraz parcels sourced from premium vineyards throughout the Barossa. Parcels selected for Pepperjack Barossa Shiraz have bright, rich fruit concentration with a range of flavours from red berries to rich plums and a hint of savoury notes.

The fruit is fermented for up to ten days depending on the parcel of fruit, then aged for 12 months in a mix of American and French Oak. Individual parcels of fruit are matured separately to maximise the blends complexity through a staged selection process. The resultant wine is soft and plush with lots of flavour, balance and a fine tannin structure — 8 years ago

Jon Ruyle

9.1

Nice. Big fruit, but not as ripe as what I expected from a barossa Shiraz. Evolved with air. Finish only slightly herby. — 8 years ago

with Eugene

Michelle Ng

9.5

Pre-wedding dinner — 10 years ago

Ryan O'Keefe

9.6

Merry Xmas — 11 years ago

Pierpaolo Petrassi MW

Master of Wine; Head of Beer, Wine & Spirits Waitrose

9.1

2005. A house favourite and one of the best expressions of New World Riesling which exists. The late release adds both a great story but the required time to make this superb wine really sing. — 12 years ago

P A

9.4

Wonderful aroma, smooth with depth, perfect Color and body. Complex and interesting, Salude! — 12 years ago

Heather Crump

9.6

Very full bodied. Not dry — 13 years ago