WCC Syrah from around the world tasting (Clifton Park, NY): Powerhouse of a wine. First impressions are impressive with soaring aromatics - intense black fruited and meaty notes dominate here, though there's a surprisingly sweet floral note (honeysuckle?) that has me wondering if there's some Viognier in this blend as well. There's similar power and intensity of flavour on the palate, and surprising acidity giving it more lift than I'd expect for such a big wine - but the alcohol does stick out on the back end and mars this a bit.
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Double decanted 24 hrs. After 20 years, it still is holding on to its deep ruby color. Barely evolved notes of dark berries, tar and chalk dominate this monster. On the palate, the wine is rich, ripe, tannic and has a lengthy finish with great acidity. I would still wait until 2025 to open bottles and enjoy until 2045. A majestic wine where there is no rush to enjoy although I must admit irresistible.
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Much better than previous bottle. Still alive and rich. Hint of prunes, plums and black olives. Spices is also showing through. Perhaps not as much complexity as one would expect from top Syrahs but a very good showing.
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Much better than the bottle I drank 4 years ago. The hard edges are gone, heat tamed. Layers of blueberry, cherries, coffee, licorice, and olive. On 2nd night it drank more linearly but still quite good.
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Deep red color. Aromas of dark fruits, bacon fat, coffee and black olives. Ripe, fully integrated, highly extracted fruit in the mouth with very good depth and length. Jammy and tongue-coating on the palate. Compared to the bottle I drank over 11 years ago, this wine is now mature and somewhat refined as opposed to the fruit bomb that I remember. Still delicious but drink up!
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Overall I was a bit disappointed by this. It fulfilled the fears that big Parkeresque wine don’t age as well as predicted as this hasn’t really developed complexity over time although it still isn’t fully mature. The nose is quite modest even after an hour decant. The palate is jammy black red fruit, smoked meats and healthy dollop of spice. Full bodied with a long finish but a touch of heat running through this feels overwrought. Does it need even more time to sweat the alcohol off? Personally I don’t think it will help much.
Similar to previous note 2 years ago. Plenty of porty, ripe plum flavors with some interesting bacon, black olive and leather notes. Very ripe and full bodied. This doesn't seem to evolving much- for better or for worse.
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On night #1: Within the several hours over which I was drinking this, it showed a fair amount of depth and complexity (dark fruit, good tannins, oaky vanilla, old leather and a hint of licorice) but it was also hot and sharp-edged. As the evening wore on, the secondary flavors came for the foreground more and more. I really enjoyed this but it wasn't earth shattering either. (On night#2, the hard edges were gone, but it had lost some complexity.)
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Rich, powerful Barossa Shiraz. Black fruits, chocolate and leather on the nose. Blackberries, cloves, tobacco and mocha on the palate. The tannins are robust and integrated, providing texture and backbone for the wine. There is good acidity that supports the other elements. Of medium length, the wine finishes with a dryness that is in my sweet spot.
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My last - much as per my previous note and once again disappointing given this wine's top billing (in both senses). Torbreck is (I suspect) long on PR and short on real class! I have had others from the stable and fail to see the attraction: will not be buying Torbreck again.
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Wow what a nose and tongue bomb. Very impressive and deep nose, and extremely long lasting mouth feel. Still very young in its appearance. I think this wine will last forever
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After a three hour+ decant, this is the first of my three noted bottles that anywhere approaches its billing. Intense blackcurrant and hedge fruit with integrated charred oak, earth, smooth but assertive tannins. Still some heat but much more integrated than earlier tastings. Now just at the excellent level - but at a hell of a price. Give me my recently noted Laing Barossa Grenache any day!!
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This is an amazing wine. Deep dark color and great aroma. Thick and unctuous - the wine sticks to the side of the glass. The pepper has now integrated into the wine beautifully. Just enough spice and pepper to make this truly exciting but not overpowering like the young Shiraz's. This has aged so gracefully. On the third day after being opened, this was classy, elegant but with great body. Gorgeous. Now I can see why aged Australian Shiraz is a crowd pleaser!
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Friday Night Tasting in Toronto (VinT's Place): Now this is way more up my alley. Northern Rhone meets Australia. I've always had a soft spot for Torbreck, especially with some age on them. With a couple hours of air this was signing with a savoury nose of backberry, saliene, black pepper, roast meat, slate and smoke. The palate remains plush and dark fruited with an elegant finish replaying the great classic savoury notes. Very enjoyable.
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nose is to die for. not ultra sweet strawberry but solid berries with hint of spice, very attractive. on palette similar to the nose with heavy rip berries, darker than Descendant but not over the top... great bottle.
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Massive, huge, excessive, over the top. Whatever superlative you fancy is appropriate on this wine. Pronounced nose of ripe red and black fruits, jam/compote, liqueur, strawberries macerated with sugar, slight floral hints, coffee/espresso, concentrated sweet balsamic notes, vanilla, spice, coconut. Palate: in short, see description of nose. High tannins, silky, glossy oak. Massive concentration keeps it interesting. Objectively, outstanding wine.
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From magnum. Oaky, spirity nose, with notes of whisky, juniper, raspberry, and blackberry jam. On the palate, it starts out as a bruiser, with strong acid/tannin and flavours of VS brandy, white sambuca, blackberry, strawberry, and redcurrant. Lightens up a bit with time in the glass, revealing juicier fruit, plus an interesting mint/toothpaste/menthol note.
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Dense, ultra concentrated and almost chewy. Still nicely fresh, the ripe black fruit went very well with both the sweet and spicy elements in the great Hot Doug's sausages at lunch today. I wish I liked this wine more since it would be a fun eponymous house wine.
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Rich ripe Aussie shiraz. Meaty, gamey bacon flavors mixed with cherry, port like notes. Not a food wine, this hasn't developed any positive aspects with age.
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Second Sunday Group: Older California Pinots (Barb's): Crimson color, just a little bricking. Opens with a meaty aroma then herbs, pepper, dark fruit and spice. Tannins are softened and there's just a bit of oak still showing through. Flavors of meat, red fruit and spice. Finishes well. Guessed N. Rhone.
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Decanted and tasted over the course of about 4 hours. Deep garnet red. Olives, roasted meats, wild berries, dried fig, savory herbs, and brushfire leap from the glass.
The palate is a rush of blackberry and black currant, liquified minerals, leather, earth, smoke, perhaps a hint of kirsh. Silky tannins provide enough structure, but this is smooth....
The finish sails on and on.... White pepper and dried apricot. Extremely well made wine, this is classic Barossa shiraz. The wine is hitting on all cylinders now, and will most likely continue to do so for another 2-3 years. I don’t foresee it improving with additional age.
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Opened for our 10 year anniversary at the Rowe, this 10 year old displays a powerful presence in both the glass and mouth. Deep coloring, purple tinged tooth staining full body with a nose of blackberry kirsch, plums, espresso, red meats. Very smooth and velvety, with coating glycerins and prodigious layers of fruit and secondaries. Exceptionally well made and impeccable balance. Paired very well with venison sausage and filet mignon. Exceptional.
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This one does show its quality. It tastes a little bit dry and it needs decanting before drinking. I think it should keep for another 10 years at least.. I will open my next bottle in 5 years..
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The oak is integrated with the fruit (plenty left) and the tannins are gone. Classic Oz Shiraz on the palate. Blackberries, hint of acidity, all that jazz that never really comes to my head. Anyway, this is outstanding wine and probably peaking right about now.
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Decanted 2hrs before consumption. Closed slightly jammy berry aromas. Intense sweet blackcurrant flavour with liquorice, herb and charred oak tones and somewhat hot. I was expecting more than just sweet brûlée intensity from this wine so revered by some. Still good but far from outstanding. Perhaps age will redeem it but lacks the structure to age gracefully in my view. Will review remaining bottles at c.6 month intervals and report back if any improvement. Very poor value as it stands
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This is an outstanding and intense Shiraz. Opened and let it sit for 30 minutes. A very dark purple with a huge nose of dark berries and something else very distinct and complementary but I could not put my finger on it. You can get some of the alcohol on the nose but not drinking it. An outstanding Shiraz with layers of flavor along with some spice, herb and wood smoke on the pallet. Wish I had more......
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Jammy and sweet, this seems appropriate for pouring over a stack of pancakes. It makes an excellent "cocktail" wine- although a friend once called this "hangover in a bottle".This does have a nice subtle savory soy component that keeps this from being just another overdone shiraz.
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We disagreed on this one. I thought this was a brilliant wine. The nose was somewhat muted which cost a few points, but the first taste was a beautiful blend of blackberries, plums, and a hint of cinnamon. A deeply rich wine with a long lush finish. Highly recommended.
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I really like this wine but its a strange wine. On the nose its more apricot skin and mandarin orange than it is red fruit. Went really good with the grilled pork chops.
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Big and massive, but far more open than I remember it being years ago (and that was, of course, years ago). Throughly enjoyable, if a bit hard on the flip side of the morning. Could go many more years.
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Another New Year's weekend high-scoring wine. Bursting bouquet of ripe red fruit, a little coffee & toast. Juicy and chewy on the palate -- ripe cherries and black berries; silky smooth with long finish. Decanted from Magnum for 2+ hours.
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Every so often ( but relatively infrequently) I get hankering for a fine Barossa Shiraz - and this wine never disappoints... Beautiful kirsch and raspberry, pepper and roast beef, and a little tar... The wine has a very long finish and excellent viscosity. At this point the wine is fully integrated and just starting to show some maturity (I think it has some smokiness that I liken to a hint of age). But the wine still deep purple all the way... Undoubtedly a big wine but every once in a while...
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Some rubber which blew off. Gorgeous mouth feel deep rich fruit, good acid. Layered, complex and quite good. I'm sure they will continue to at least hold if not improve, but this is easily accesible and there is not reason not to drink if you want one.
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Very interesting Shiraz. Nice rich nose, but some burnt rubber and maybe black olive in the mid-palate that was unexpected. Seemed just a little off center but overall a very nice wine.
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Huge, intense, concentrated wine showing a bit too much alcohol and (initially) too much oak as well. With air a sense of balance settled in with the oak submerging and large scaled blackberry, blueberry and currant aromas and flavors coming to the fore, accompanied by licorice, tar and spice. The heat, however, never dissipated; I'm hopeful that it will with age as I haven't noticed excessive alcohol in the older Factors I've had. Don't touch this beast for 3+ years.
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Massive and wonderful. Licorice pepper and a bit of candy sweetness. I understand this isn't for eveyone, it's giant inky sweet, but it's actually well balanced and not disjointed. It still needs some time but this stuff is very good.
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Drank a 1.5L and it was built to last - I'd say in that format it was premature. Heavy tannins kept the fruit in check, providing a well balanced, forceful wine.
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With an hour or an hour of half of hour, this has a super iron/boysenberry taste to it that's completely different than most of the blowsy Aussie wines that come ashore. (I like those, too, in their place.) This is a serious wine with structure and longevity ahead of it, though mine won't last much past the next time I'm thirsty for a meaningful shiraz and have an hour to wait for one to come around.
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14.5 alcohol. Not decanted. Strong black licorice and pepper combined with offensive oak and alcoholic heat on the finish. There is very little to recommend about this grossly out of balance, over extracted mess. Why not score it lower? Because while I hate it, I understand many will like this wine ala mollydooker. Hey! Knock yourself out, it's your choice, even if you are out of your friggin' mind.
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Almost black in color. Youthful aromas of ripe black fruits, licorice and white spices. Highly extracted but well-structured and balanced fruit in the mouth. The ripe tannins and oak are almost completely absorbed by the thick, tongue coating fruit. Excellent length.
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100% shiraz and definitely a wine in its own right compared to competitors in Cote Rotie. Intense dark berries on the nose and palate and has structure and acidity to make it last for years to come. Stunning.
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Ordered off the menu at Strip Steak in Las Vegas ($215). Nose and palate were a bit closed on decanting but opened up nicely over 60 minutes. Fruit is still restrained but lots of complexity just beneath the surface. Impressively balanced and incredibly silky. This will be a real beauty in a few years, I suggest at least 45 min decanting for now.
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Inky purple-black in the glass with an explosive nose of eucalyptus, menthol, cherries, dark fruits and herbs. Tightly wound on the palate, rich but well balanced and very primary with lots of dark fruited flavours over softer minty and spicy notes with firm tannins underneath. Finishes long and savoury.
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Australia Day Dinner (Tagine - Chicago, IL): Full throttle and complex nose of dark fruits, herbs, licorice and peppermint. The palate is still tight and not as generous. Great concentration of fruit and length. Give this more time.
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I opened this bottle much too young but let me note that 'The Factor' is fast becoming my favorite Barossa Shiraz...I find the 2003 to be plush, deep and impressively balanced. Blackfruit, blueberry, spice, licorice, the smoke of grilled meat, the taste of stone, a lingering finish....at least 30 seconds. Outstanding...and now a reference point wine for me. 93+
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New Release Torbreck Tasting (North Sydney Cellars): Nose is rather tight - some spicy, peppery, smoked meat characters being all that I could get. Palate has excellent structure and balance as well as very good length. Given time, I think it'll open up and be rather good.
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3/28/2024 - salil wrote: 89 Points
WCC Syrah from around the world tasting (Clifton Park, NY): Powerhouse of a wine. First impressions are impressive with soaring aromatics - intense black fruited and meaty notes dominate here, though there's a surprisingly sweet floral note (honeysuckle?) that has me wondering if there's some Viognier in this blend as well. There's similar power and intensity of flavour on the palate, and surprising acidity giving it more lift than I'd expect for such a big wine - but the alcohol does stick out on the back end and mars this a bit.
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10/31/2023 - Ara Kafafian Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted 24 hrs. After 20 years, it still is holding on to its deep ruby color. Barely evolved notes of dark berries, tar and chalk dominate this monster. On the palate, the wine is rich, ripe, tannic and has a lengthy finish with great acidity. I would still wait until 2025 to open bottles and enjoy until 2045. A majestic wine where there is no rush to enjoy although I must admit irresistible.
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2/27/2022 - Jaegergeister wrote: 94 Points
Top Value! Outstanding Shiraz in great shape. Manifold herbal Notes, great length. Drink now or within next few years. Lecker!
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12/25/2021 - Fatdoi Likes this wine: 94 Points
shows no signs of aging, silky smooth however slight monotonic bombastic of deep berry hits.... super rounded finish
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4/29/2021 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to the 9/4/20 bottle and still delicious, lush and intact after 18 years.
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1/31/2021 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to the 9/4/20 bottle for about 30 minutes before a rapid decline.
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1/29/2021 - Ksquare Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better than previous bottle. Still alive and rich. Hint of prunes, plums and black olives. Spices is also showing through. Perhaps not as much complexity as one would expect from top Syrahs but a very good showing.
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12/29/2020 - Quarked wrote: 93 Points
Much better than the bottle I drank 4 years ago. The hard edges are gone, heat tamed. Layers of blueberry, cherries, coffee, licorice, and olive. On 2nd night it drank more linearly but still quite good.
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9/4/2020 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
A touch richer and longer on the palate than the 6/18/19 bottle.
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6/18/2019 - hsacks Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep red color. Aromas of dark fruits, bacon fat, coffee and black olives. Ripe, fully integrated, highly extracted fruit in the mouth with very good depth and length. Jammy and tongue-coating on the palate. Compared to the bottle I drank over 11 years ago, this wine is now mature and somewhat refined as opposed to the fruit bomb that I remember. Still delicious but drink up!
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4/11/2019 - mclanew wrote: 91 Points
Overall I was a bit disappointed by this. It fulfilled the fears that big Parkeresque wine don’t age as well as predicted as this hasn’t really developed complexity over time although it still isn’t fully mature. The nose is quite modest even after an hour decant. The palate is jammy black red fruit, smoked meats and healthy dollop of spice. Full bodied with a long finish but a touch of heat running through this feels overwrought. Does it need even more time to sweat the alcohol off? Personally I don’t think it will help much.
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2/21/2019 - pgm Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rich, and still quite youthful, firm tannins, and bright acidity. Blackberry and five spice. Drink in the next 5 years.
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11/19/2016 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Similar to previous note 2 years ago. Plenty of porty, ripe plum flavors with some interesting bacon, black olive and leather notes. Very ripe and full bodied. This doesn't seem to evolving much- for better or for worse.
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9/10/2016 - Quarked wrote: 91 Points
On night #1: Within the several hours over which I was drinking this, it showed a fair amount of depth and complexity (dark fruit, good tannins, oaky vanilla, old leather and a hint of licorice) but it was also hot and sharp-edged. As the evening wore on, the secondary flavors came for the foreground more and more. I really enjoyed this but it wasn't earth shattering either. (On night#2, the hard edges were gone, but it had lost some complexity.)
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5/26/2016 - Andrew67 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, powerful Barossa Shiraz. Black fruits, chocolate and leather on the nose. Blackberries, cloves, tobacco and mocha on the palate. The tannins are robust and integrated, providing texture and backbone for the wine. There is good acidity that supports the other elements. Of medium length, the wine finishes with a dryness that is in my sweet spot.
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3/13/2016 - NickBurwood wrote: 90 Points
My last - much as per my previous note and once again disappointing given this wine's top billing (in both senses).
Torbreck is (I suspect) long on PR and short on real class! I have had others from the stable and fail to see the attraction: will not be buying Torbreck again.
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3/7/2016 - Kaerhoeg wrote: 93 Points
Wow what a nose and tongue bomb. Very impressive and deep nose, and extremely long lasting mouth feel. Still very young in its appearance. I think this wine will last forever
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12/7/2015 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 90 Points
After a three hour+ decant, this is the first of my three noted bottles that anywhere approaches its billing.
Intense blackcurrant and hedge fruit with integrated charred oak, earth, smooth but assertive tannins. Still some heat but much more integrated than earlier tastings.
Now just at the excellent level - but at a hell of a price. Give me my recently noted Laing Barossa Grenache any day!!
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10/10/2015 - Kvg Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine still has lots of life left in it. It is dark and rich with lots of fruit and a lingering finish. I think it still needs some age.
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6/21/2015 - JJA Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is an amazing wine. Deep dark color and great aroma. Thick and unctuous - the wine sticks to the side of the glass. The pepper has now integrated into the wine beautifully. Just enough spice and pepper to make this truly exciting but not overpowering like the young Shiraz's. This has aged so gracefully. On the third day after being opened, this was classy, elegant but with great body. Gorgeous. Now I can see why aged Australian Shiraz is a crowd pleaser!
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4/24/2015 - Wine Canuck wrote: 91 Points
Friday Night Tasting in Toronto (VinT's Place): Now this is way more up my alley. Northern Rhone meets Australia. I've always had a soft spot for Torbreck, especially with some age on them. With a couple hours of air this was signing with a savoury nose of backberry, saliene, black pepper, roast meat, slate and smoke. The palate remains plush and dark fruited with an elegant finish replaying the great classic savoury notes. Very enjoyable.
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3/30/2015 - NickBurwood wrote: 88 Points
My 2013 note still applies. A good (but only good) wine severely overpriced. Unmemorable except in one of Parker's more crazed visions.
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2/20/2015 - Rugtved wrote: 92 Points
Very smooth and long long aftertaste.
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1/18/2015 - Fatdoi wrote: 93 Points
nose is to die for. not ultra sweet strawberry but solid berries with hint of spice, very attractive. on palette similar to the nose with heavy rip berries, darker than Descendant but not over the top... great bottle.
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1/14/2015 - PT insurgent wrote:
Massive, huge, excessive, over the top. Whatever superlative you fancy is appropriate on this wine.
Pronounced nose of ripe red and black fruits, jam/compote, liqueur, strawberries macerated with sugar, slight floral hints, coffee/espresso, concentrated sweet balsamic notes, vanilla, spice, coconut.
Palate: in short, see description of nose. High tannins, silky, glossy oak. Massive concentration keeps it interesting.
Objectively, outstanding wine.
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11/6/2014 - curtr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, balanced, fully ready. A bit over the top.
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10/12/2014 - bonedocnine Likes this wine: 94 Points
wonderful. exceptional. wish I had more.
Very classic barossa shiraz.
Lovely
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10/9/2014 - Drinking Trees wrote:
From magnum. Oaky, spirity nose, with notes of whisky, juniper, raspberry, and blackberry jam. On the palate, it starts out as a bruiser, with strong acid/tannin and flavours of VS brandy, white sambuca, blackberry, strawberry, and redcurrant. Lightens up a bit with time in the glass, revealing juicier fruit, plus an interesting mint/toothpaste/menthol note.
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9/4/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Dense, ultra concentrated and almost chewy. Still nicely fresh, the ripe black fruit went very well with both the sweet and spicy elements in the great Hot Doug's sausages at lunch today. I wish I liked this wine more since it would be a fun eponymous house wine.
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5/3/2014 - robertek wrote: 94 Points
This is a very enjoyable wine that is in the zone right now. It won't get better.
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3/13/2014 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 89 Points
Rich ripe Aussie shiraz. Meaty, gamey bacon flavors mixed with cherry, port like notes. Not a food wine, this hasn't developed any positive aspects with age.
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2/9/2014 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Second Sunday Group: Older California Pinots (Barb's): Crimson color, just a little bricking. Opens with a meaty aroma then herbs, pepper, dark fruit and spice. Tannins are softened and there's just a bit of oak still showing through. Flavors of meat, red fruit and spice. Finishes well. Guessed N. Rhone.
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2/8/2014 - pakabear wrote: 88 Points
Great nose, kinda like a vanilla coke milk shake. Please flavor but gets a bit oaky for my tastes.
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11/24/2013 - Toro Nero Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted and tasted over the course of about 4 hours. Deep garnet red. Olives, roasted meats, wild berries, dried fig, savory herbs, and brushfire leap from the glass.
The palate is a rush of blackberry and black currant, liquified minerals, leather, earth, smoke, perhaps a hint of kirsh. Silky tannins provide enough structure, but this is smooth....
The finish sails on and on.... White pepper and dried apricot. Extremely well made wine, this is classic Barossa shiraz. The wine is hitting on all cylinders now, and will most likely continue to do so for another 2-3 years. I don’t foresee it improving with additional age.
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10/11/2013 - Senso-beak wrote: 96 Points
Opened for our 10 year anniversary at the Rowe, this 10 year old displays a powerful presence in both the glass and mouth. Deep coloring, purple tinged tooth staining full body with a nose of blackberry kirsch, plums, espresso, red meats. Very smooth and velvety, with coating glycerins and prodigious layers of fruit and secondaries. Exceptionally well made and impeccable balance. Paired very well with venison sausage and filet mignon. Exceptional.
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10/7/2013 - citizen1 wrote: 94 Points
Super dark plum. Cherry. This is EPIC.
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8/15/2013 - mikechw wrote: 93 Points
This one does show its quality. It tastes a little bit dry and it needs decanting before drinking.
I think it should keep for another 10 years at least..
I will open my next bottle in 5 years..
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6/5/2013 - kurishin Likes this wine: 92 Points
The oak is integrated with the fruit (plenty left) and the tannins are gone. Classic Oz Shiraz on the palate. Blackberries, hint of acidity, all that jazz that never really comes to my head. Anyway, this is outstanding wine and probably peaking right about now.
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1/26/2013 - NickBurwood wrote: 88 Points
Decanted 2hrs before consumption.
Closed slightly jammy berry aromas.
Intense sweet blackcurrant flavour with liquorice, herb and charred oak tones and somewhat hot.
I was expecting more than just sweet brûlée intensity from this wine so revered by some. Still good but far from outstanding. Perhaps age will redeem it but lacks the structure to age gracefully in my view.
Will review remaining bottles at c.6 month intervals and report back if any improvement.
Very poor value as it stands
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11/21/2012 - paulrc56 wrote: 94 Points
This is an outstanding and intense Shiraz. Opened and let it sit for 30 minutes. A very dark purple with a huge nose of dark berries and something else very distinct and complementary but I could not put my finger on it. You can get some of the alcohol on the nose but not drinking it. An outstanding Shiraz with layers of flavor along with some spice, herb and wood smoke on the pallet. Wish I had more......
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11/16/2012 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 89 Points
Jammy and sweet, this seems appropriate for pouring over a stack of pancakes. It makes an excellent "cocktail" wine- although a friend once called this "hangover in a bottle".This does have a nice subtle savory soy component that keeps this from being just another overdone shiraz.
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11/3/2012 - TMacpherson Likes this wine: 92 Points
We disagreed on this one. I thought this was a brilliant wine. The nose was somewhat muted which cost a few points, but the first taste was a beautiful blend of blackberries, plums, and a hint of cinnamon. A deeply rich wine with a long lush finish. Highly recommended.
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6/25/2012 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 92 Points
I really like this wine but its a strange wine. On the nose its more apricot skin and mandarin orange than it is red fruit. Went really good with the grilled pork chops.
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3/31/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Big and massive, but far more open than I remember it being years ago (and that was, of course, years ago). Throughly enjoyable, if a bit hard on the flip side of the morning. Could go many more years.
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1/1/2012 - kenmmm Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another New Year's weekend high-scoring wine. Bursting bouquet of ripe red fruit, a little coffee & toast. Juicy and chewy on the palate -- ripe cherries and black berries; silky smooth with long finish. Decanted from Magnum for 2+ hours.
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9/8/2011 - Jack wrote: 92 Points
Big and bold as expected. Ok balance but definitely leans over the top.
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5/8/2011 - jonnyoro wrote: 95 Points
Every so often ( but relatively infrequently) I get hankering for a fine Barossa Shiraz - and this wine never disappoints... Beautiful kirsch and raspberry, pepper and roast beef, and a little tar... The wine has a very long finish and excellent viscosity. At this point the wine is fully integrated and just starting to show some maturity (I think it has some smokiness that I liken to a hint of age). But the wine still deep purple all the way... Undoubtedly a big wine but every once in a while...
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3/25/2011 - Rob_Sutherland wrote: 93 Points
Some rubber which blew off. Gorgeous mouth feel deep rich fruit, good acid. Layered, complex and quite good. I'm sure they will continue to at least hold if not improve, but this is easily accesible and there is not reason not to drink if you want one.
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12/2/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Odd nose, with rubber. But the sweetness is what kills it for me. Unbalanced. $100
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9/29/2010 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 94 Points
Great wine! Dark fruit and tar on the nose. Black olive, bacon, dark fruits, coffee leads to a very nice finish.
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7/18/2010 - swanson.art wrote: 92 Points
Very interesting Shiraz. Nice rich nose, but some burnt rubber and maybe black olive in the mid-palate that was unexpected. Seemed just a little off center but overall a very nice wine.
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9/25/2009 - joshwoodward wrote: 84 Points
Yikes. Just yikes.; 9/24/2009-9/25/2009 (Bowling Green, OH): [Second Night] I'd say this was flawed, but everyone else was ga-ga over it. This was a rubber band bomb on the nose and the palate. I couldn't get past it.
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8/2/2009 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Gigantic wine. Rich, and intense with interesting soy, hoisin finish. Nice tannic structure bodes well for long term aging.
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6/28/2009 - rsepulve wrote:
Huge, intense, concentrated wine showing a bit too much alcohol and (initially) too much oak as well. With air a sense of balance settled in with the oak submerging and large scaled blackberry, blueberry and currant aromas and flavors coming to the fore, accompanied by licorice, tar and spice. The heat, however, never dissipated; I'm hopeful that it will with age as I haven't noticed excessive alcohol in the older Factors I've had. Don't touch this beast for 3+ years.
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5/13/2009 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Tasted of burnt rubber and sweet fruit. Really strives to be something beyond the average Shiraz and succeeds. Excellent.
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1/21/2009 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 94 Points
I love this wine. Its an odd combination of Soy sauce and mandarin oranges. Some plums and allspice as well. Long finish.
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1/1/2009 - KWC3141 wrote: 94 Points
Massive and wonderful. Licorice pepper and a bit of candy sweetness. I understand this isn't for eveyone, it's giant inky sweet, but it's actually well balanced and not disjointed. It still needs some time but this stuff is very good.
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12/19/2008 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Drank a 1.5L and it was built to last - I'd say in that format it was premature. Heavy tannins kept the fruit in check, providing a well balanced, forceful wine.
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12/7/2008 - caldwell wrote: 94 Points
With an hour or an hour of half of hour, this has a super iron/boysenberry taste to it that's completely different than most of the blowsy Aussie wines that come ashore. (I like those, too, in their place.) This is a serious wine with structure and longevity ahead of it, though mine won't last much past the next time I'm thirsty for a meaningful shiraz and have an hour to wait for one to come around.
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10/7/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 85 Points
14.5 alcohol. Not decanted. Strong black licorice and pepper combined with offensive oak and alcoholic heat on the finish. There is very little to recommend about this grossly out of balance, over extracted mess. Why not score it lower? Because while I hate it, I understand many will like this wine ala mollydooker. Hey! Knock yourself out, it's your choice, even if you are out of your friggin' mind.
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5/3/2008 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 89 Points
Not up to standards for the price point of this wine. Blackpepper, spice and floral. Medium finish but lacks character.
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3/11/2008 - hsacks wrote: 94 Points
Almost black in color. Youthful aromas of ripe black fruits, licorice and white spices. Highly extracted but well-structured and balanced fruit in the mouth. The ripe tannins and oak are almost completely absorbed by the thick, tongue coating fruit. Excellent length.
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11/21/2007 - ove wrote: 95 Points
100% shiraz and definitely a wine in its own right compared to competitors in Cote Rotie. Intense dark berries on the nose and palate and has structure and acidity to make it last for years to come. Stunning.
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2/17/2007 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 94 Points
Massive extraction and deep purple color. Aromas of baked fruit and maybe bananas. Long and luscious. Really good wine just beginning its life.
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2/8/2007 - Magnolian wrote: 94 Points
Ordered off the menu at Strip Steak in Las Vegas ($215). Nose and palate were a bit closed on decanting but opened up nicely over 60 minutes. Fruit is still restrained but lots of complexity just beneath the surface. Impressively balanced and incredibly silky. This will be a real beauty in a few years, I suggest at least 45 min decanting for now.
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1/26/2007 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Inky purple-black in the glass with an explosive nose of eucalyptus, menthol, cherries, dark fruits and herbs. Tightly wound on the palate, rich but well balanced and very primary with lots of dark fruited flavours over softer minty and spicy notes with firm tannins underneath. Finishes long and savoury.
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1/26/2007 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Australia Day Dinner (Tagine - Chicago, IL): Full throttle and complex nose of dark fruits, herbs, licorice and peppermint. The palate is still tight and not as generous. Great concentration of fruit and length. Give this more time.
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10/8/2006 - DRL01 wrote: 93 Points
Medium bodied. Lots of dark fruits, spice.
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10/2/2006 - paulst wrote: 93 Points
Strong heavy fruit with a balance of blackberry and cherry and a robustness with a fizz.
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9/19/2006 - peterkj wrote:
Fokus på Australien (Kokkens Vinhus, Glostrup Centret): Farve: Sort. Aroma: Lidt stald. Smag: Meget syre. Helhed: Der er power. Pris: 800 kr. Karakter: 10.
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8/13/2006 - BDoolin wrote: 93 Points
I opened this bottle much too young but let me note that 'The Factor' is fast becoming my favorite Barossa Shiraz...I find the 2003 to be plush, deep and impressively balanced. Blackfruit, blueberry, spice, licorice, the smoke of grilled meat, the taste of stone, a lingering finish....at least 30 seconds. Outstanding...and now a reference point wine for me. 93+
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4/20/2006 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
New Release Torbreck Tasting (North Sydney Cellars): Nose is rather tight - some spicy, peppery, smoked meat characters being all that I could get. Palate has excellent structure and balance as well as very good length. Given time, I think it'll open up and be rather good.
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