The Shiraz for the 2006 The Descendant is sourced from a single vineyard and co-fermented with 8% Viognier. It was aged for 18 months in seasoned French oak. Opaque purple-colored, it emits an expressive, sexy perfume of violets, wood smoke, black pepper, espresso, blueberry, and chocolate. Full-bodied, on the palate, this voluptuous effort has great concentration with a noticeable uplift from the Viognier, tons of spicy black fruits, enough ripe tannin to evolve for a decade, and 60-second finish. It should provide pleasure from 2016 through 2036. Torbreck, under the leadership of owner/winemaker David Powell, remains a Barossa Valley benchmark as well as one of the world’s leading wine estates. The only cloud on the horizon concerns the winery’s ramped up production during a period of economic hard times.There are three white wines in the Torbreck portfolio.Importer: Jon Elkins, The Australian Wine Connection, Carlsbad, CA; www.torbreck.com

Strange, green, bitter flavors turn gamy on the finish. Shiraz and Viognier. 900 cases made, 450 cases imported.??–HS??Region: Australia / Barossa / Barossa Valley Select to Add