Torbreck "Descendant" Shiraz 2022
(Barossa Valley, Australia) - [JS 97] [WA 97]

Notes from the Winemaker:
Intense, perfumed fruits with an underlying layer of lavender and spice. Dense dark cherry and blueberry fruit is perfectly interwoven with subtle nuances of white peach, spice and cinnamon. Full-bodied with great concentration, yet retaining soft supple tannins this suave wine has impeccable balance. Of all the Torbreck wines the Descendent needs patient cellaring. Its immediate charm can be enjoyed upon release with just a few hours breathing, but we recommend locking the other bottles away for at least five years to enjoy its full potential, cellaring for the next 15 years plus.

Tasting Notes:
In the glass a deep crimson, almost purple wine with perfumed florals and spice underlined by red and black fruits and hints of lavender

Technical Information

Varietal Composition: 92% Shiraz, 8% Viognier Co-fermented
Vineyard: Descendant Vineyard, planted in 1994 with cuttings from the RunRig Vineyards
Sub-region: Marananga
Ageing: 20 months in second fill French oak barriques, previously used for RunRig
ABV: 14.5%
pH: 3.68
Total Acidity 6.33g/L
Cellaring: 15 to 20 years

Ratings & Reviews

97 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:

The 2022 Descendant is a co-fermented blend of Shiraz and Viognier (8%), and the wine exudes masses of floral perfume, which translates accurately in the mouth. It is silky and intense; the tannins are ductile and pervasive, and yet they have a bloody, ferruginous note that makes their dispersion feel more like an infusion than a framework. It is chewy and weighty, without being heavy or swaggering. Awesome wine. Superb. 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

97 Points - James Suckling:
Lovely aromas of blackberries, violets, ink, dark chocolate, graphite, black olives, peaches and graphite. The palate is tightly wound, with silky tannins and bright acidity that is harmoniously in balance. Flavors of dark chocolate, blood plums, pomegranates and licorice root. Perfumed, savory, intense and pure. An exceptional release of this wine, with 8% viognier co-fermented with shiraz. Drink or hold.