Sourced from the devigorated soils of western Seppeltsfield, Les Amis is a testament to what only the most fastidious farming can achieve~  purity, intensity and finesse. Possessing a dense, saturated ruby/purple hue the 2005 Les Amis flaunts the concentration, poise and panache of which only the greatest terroirs are gifted. Delicate scents of Chinese five spice, smoke, white flowers and roasted herbs precede a dense, brooding core of black cherry, coal and scorched earth. The well delineated palate offers tremendous texture and combines glorious fruit purity with subtle notes of toasted brioche, fresh cream and balsamic. Multi-dimensional and incredibly intricate, the wine finishes with crisp acids and a cloak of beautifully ripe, polished tannins. Revealing a savoury elegance in its youth, the 2005 Les Amis will continue to build in complexity for many years to come.

The 2005 Les Amis, sourced from a 100+-year-old vineyard, is 100% Grenache aged for 18 months in new oak. Remarkably fragrant, it emits full-throttle aromas of spice box, kirsch, wild raspberry, and blackberry liqueur. Plush on the palate, it reveals layers of rich, red and black berry flavors, ripe tannin, and a 60-second, pure finish. Although it can be admired now, the wine merits 6-8 years of further bottle aging to reveal all of its splendors. This sensational effort could easily masquerade as Pegau Cuvee de Capo on human growth hormone.

Torbreck, under the leadership of owner/winemaker David Powell, remains a Barossa Valley benchmark as well as one of the world’s greatest wine estates. The top cuvees are limited production and expensive but there are also some outstanding values in the portfolio. With regard to the current vintages for the Barossa red wines, David Powell states “? 2004 is more savory while 2005 has more purity and definition. 2004 is more classic, 2005 will take longer to come around.” Wine Advocate # 173; Oct 2007 Jay Miller 98 points