…impressive lineage

Torbreck work with some of the oldest bush vines in the world. From the beginning the ‘RunRig’ has taken its inspiration from the wines crafted from the old vines clinging to the steep slopes of the Northern Rhône Valley wine appellation of Côte Rôtie.
The ‘RunRig’ is sourced from ancient dry grown Barossa Shiraz vineyards and a dash of Viognier. Celebrating the strengths and complex characters of these individual parcels, whilst giving the resulting wine a traditional touch and defining end note. This 2018 ‘RunRig’ like its predecessors has a self-assured richness, and has long held a reputation as a concentrated wine, that with time reveals a quality able to stand side-by-side with the world’s most generous age worthy wines. Just to give this 2018 vintage context, winemaker Ian Hongell joined in 2017 - so this is the first vintage of ‘RunRig’ with his guiding hands from bud to bottle.
This 2018 ‘RunRig’ is crafted from predominantly Shiraz with a dash of Viognier and was matured in a combination of new and old French oak barriques for a period of 30 months. This is an assemblage of 6 specific vineyards: Lyndoch, Rowland Flat, Moppa, Ebenezer, Light Pass and Greenock.
As the first fruit parcels came into the winery the bunches were gently de-stemmed into wooden and concrete open top fermenters where they were carefully hand-plunged for 6 to 7 days. After basket pressing the wine was then transferred directly into new (50%), two and three-year-old French oak barriques to complete a natural malolactic fermentation. The wine was then racked after 6 months and left on fine lees throughout maturation to enhance palate texture. After around 30 months, the Shiraz components were tasted and blended - then another tasting was conducted to determine the percentage of Viognier added to the final blend.

★ As you pour this wine, a rich virtually black-red colour will fill your glass. This ‘RunRig’ is far from a shrinking violet on the nose, delivering intense dark forest fruits, blackberries, sandalwood, cardamom, black olives, cassis, cacao, dried herbs and earthy spices.
The palate is engaging and complex with well-defined, elegant layers or dark fruits, clove and cacao all interwoven with hints of dried spices and sultry vanillin oak. There is no doubt about the generosity of this wine, with multiple layers of rich dark fruit characters that have started to evolve in the bottle with those earthy nuances, dark cacao and a ground coffee texture all nicely balanced by superb tannins and natural fruit acidity resulting in a broad lingering classic dry finish. The 2018 ‘RunRig’ will certainly reward patience, with the capacity to cellar for 20 years.

This 2018 Torbreck 'RunRig' Barossa Shiraz has 15% Alc./vol - classic dry style. If opened in the next 18-24 months decant for 60-75 minutes and serve in a generously shaped wine glass at 16°- 18°C. *NZ$349.99

CELLARING POTENTIAL: *(Review 10/6/22)
With good decanting (wide base), this 2018 is approachable this season; though will appreciate another 3 - 4 years and will repay and age nicely for another 15 - 20 years.

FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
Perfect wine pairing with slow cooked lamb shanks with a rich wine jus, bbq’d, smoked prime-cut red meats, A5 Wagyu beef, rich pasta dishes and earthy vegetarian cuisine, plus aged hard cheeses - enjoy.