Torbreck RunRig 2010

Deep garnet-black with a hint of purple to the color, the 2010 RunRig taunts at first with a slightly closed nose before it engages with subtle kirsch, preserved plum, dried mulberry and Christmas cake notes intermingled with hints of violets, cinnamon stick, mocha and game. Full-bodied, rich and incredibly concentrated, the palate astonishes with incredible poise for such a big style as it perfectly balances the wine’s generous fruit flavors with firm, velvety tannins and seamlessly vibrant, lively acid. It finishes with incredible persistence. Delicious now, it should drink best 2016 to 2028+. Importer by Wine Creek, LLC., Healdsburg, CA.

Simultaneously incredibly rich and incredibly fragrant, the 2010 RunRig seems capable of aging at least another 15 years. Scents of violets and red berries combine with darker fruit, ample dried spice and hints of savory meatiness. It's a complete wine and one of the ultimate expressions of Barossa Valley Shiraz.

Since I reported on Torbreck's recent releases back in March, what to do during my May visit? Perhaps a look back into the archives? OK, twist my arm... We tasted short verticals of the Les Amis (Grenache) and Run Rig (Shiraz). I've omitted including reviews of the 2013 and 2015 Les Amis (97 and 98 points, respectively) and the 2013 RunRig (98 points), because they're substantially similar to those published in Issues 225 and 232. Readers looking for the 2008 versions of these wines as part of the 10-years-later retrospective: they weren't bottled that year.