Bob McDonald

8.9

Mid crimson in colour. Earthy smoky notes with more forest floor than red fruit notes. These earthy notes come through on the palate finishing with a slight astringency. Good structure but requires a more red fruited presence on the palate I feel. A well credentialed producer from Martinborough better known for their high quality individual Cuvées like Kupe. Long time wine maker is Australian Larry McKenna. Footnote: Just discovered that Escarpment is now owned by Torbreck Vintners (South Australia). — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Delectable - this is a new Cuvée for Torbreck brought to the Toowoomba Wine Show Dinner by Torbreck winemaker Greg McGill. This was the 2017 Hillside Grenache. A good Grenache but I still think McLaren Vale is better for the variety than the Barossa. — 6 years ago

Tim Drury

9.6

Happy Father’s Day to me — 7 years ago

with Seema

TheSkip

9.0

Continuing the adventures in sub 20 screwcap Australian Shiraz. Notes similar to last years vintage. Not as good as the 2016 torbreck woodcutters. — 7 years ago

Geoffrey Turnbull

8.9

Fresh and grassy at Nova Haven. — 8 years ago

康裕 森本

9.2

飲みやすくてすごく美味しい。コストパフォーマンス抜群！ — 8 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.0

C11. Very nice. Soft toasty nose. Round, apricot baking spice and vanilla fruit. Still maintaining a crisp , oaky finish — 8 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.4

The battle of the Syrah versus the Shiraz. This time Shiraz from Torbreck won (the Factor). The Royal City Syrah was just as complex but the bold fruit and its sweetness were hiding some of the underlying earthy and mineral notes. Almost a bit out of balance. Still really good and made us fight over the last drop with our friends. — 5 years ago

with Todd and Tammy

Gordon McGregor

9.0

Hot stuff. — 5 years ago

Steven Lee

9.3

Fried bee hoon war. Same vineyard as torbreck the laird. Very good. Dark fruit, heavy, brooding, anise, vanila, liquorice, sweet, chinese soy sauce, hint of chinese tea leave, velvety, chocolate and multilayer complexity. Can go for few more years — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 7 years ago

Steven Lee

9.5

Lucious red fruit - red berry and raspberry with a very fine tannin. Plum and cinamon and graphite. Silky smooth and very easy drink. A good level of purity. Man behind ringland and torbreck — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Again, nice respect to Rhone while representing their terroir. Beautiful full tropical fruit, stone fruit and beautiful florals on the nose and palate. Nice job and value. — 8 years ago

Risika Nyx

8.9

Smells kind of like... Wax, I suppose and mild oak.

Tastes big. Dark berries, nice round tanins with a mild finish. — 8 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

Rich, classic Barossa Shiraz. Jammy with a spicy dry edge. Cedar drenched strawberries comes to mind. Perhaps doesn’t sound appetizing but it provided a nice lingering flavor in the finish. — 5 years ago

with Tammy

Jason and Jennie

9.6

Fun afternoon flight

2016 Sinegal reserve cab 96+
2016 gemstone yountville cab
2015 torbreck the factor — 5 years ago

Paul J

9.3

15+ minutes open in the bottle, but could use more and has some years left in it. Very similar to the Torbreck Shiraz “The Factor” I had a little bit ago. Almost black in color. Nose has big cedar and tar aromas. Wine probably has a little too much oak, but love the dark fruit and vegetable/earth undertones and its is very jammy. The 16% OH has to be a typo, because I’ve never seen a wine that high and it doesn’t seem that high. Insanely long finish. Massive power, but not quite on par with “The Factor”. — 7 years ago

with Brooke

Daniel M

8.9

Torbreck vintners - Marananga dam - old vines - Grenache Mourvèdre - Shiraz 2015 - Barossa valley. Great fruity nose, wide palate not so warm considering it has 15% alcohol, lots of red fruits and good acid backbone. Long finish with fruits. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

On the nose; a bit of a brett bomb to start. Even after 11 years in the bottle, it needed a good 2 hour decant. Stewed fruits of; huckleberry, boysenberries, blueberries, plums, black raspberries, dark & liqueured cherries. Black raspberry cola, figs & dates, black & white pepper, touch of smoke & grilled meats, menthol, used leather, dry stems, dark minerals, loamy dry top soil, right amount of baking spices, lilacs & liquid violets. The body is full, round & lush. Tannins perfectly resolved. They still have a little baby teeth. The structure, length, tension and balance are near perfect. Stewed fruits of; huckleberry, boysenberries, blueberries, plums, black raspberries, dark liqueured cherries & strawberries haunting the palate here and there. Black raspberry cola, figs & dates, black & white pepper, a touch of smoke & grilled meats, menthol, used leather, dry stems, dark minerals, loamy dry top soil, right amount & mix of baking spices, lilacs, liquid violets & red florals. The acidity is perfect and acts like a waterfall over the palate. The fruit floral, lightly spiced finish goes on and on and on. Standish does not have a U.S. importer as his wines are small productions and he has no issues selling nearly all of them down under. You can order from his mailing list but, the shipping costs from Australia are stupid. Look for bottles on the secondary markets. You’ll be glad you did. If you have or had reservations about Australian wine or Shiraz vs. Syrah, Dan’s wines will end those thoughts. We tasted with Dan at his winery in April. He is extremely knowledgeable and a very talented Winemaker. He made Torbreck for years before starting his own winery. Photos of; his Estate, Dan and his low yield vines. His yield was an extremely low half ton per acre on this vintage. — 8 years ago

Brash Higgins

9.2

Meaty and fine, like this a lot. Good balance here. Perfect w tri tip at the Henry Austin — 8 years ago