|
|
Search WineStar: |
|
This wine is composed of 100% Shiraz and was first produced from the 1998 vintage. In the early 1980s valuable (and many old) Australian Shiraz vineyards were pulled out because of lack of market interest. The movement to cool climate viticulture and it’s wines made the Barossa, of all places, look rather irrelevant. However this trend reversed dramatically with the internationalisation of the Australian wine market and renewed enthusiasm of local buyers. This is our tribute to those surviving vines and is made in the traditional Barossa manner (without the ubiquitous American oak), rich and rewarding upon release and beautifully ethereal with age. The subdistricts used in the composition of The Factor are; Marananga, Vine Vale, Kalimna, Moppa, Light Pass and Stonewell. The individual components of this wine combined, produce an average yield of 1 to 1.5 tones per acre in an area where 6 tonnes per acre is more common. The result speaks for itself. The 2005 The Factor is 100% Shiraz sourced from dry grown vines from six sub-regions of Barossa. It spent 24 months in 30% new French oak. Opaque purple-colored, it delivers an expressive bouquet of pepper, smoke, espresso roast, blackberry, blueberry, and licorice. Full-bodied and voluptuous on the palate, nuances of saddle leather and mineral emerge to complement the layers of spicy blue and black fruits. The wine is beautifully integrated with enough well-concealed tannin to keep this wine evolving for a decade. The pure finish lingers for 60+ seconds to complete the experience of a totally hedonistic turn-on. 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. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate # 173; Oct 2007 Jay Miller 97 points Torbreck Barossa Valley The Factor Shiraz 2005 ($125): It's good. It's enormously drinkable, It's decadent, rich, like liquid licorice, like sugar toasted on a bed of mashed blackberries. There are flavours of twigs and camphor and bright blossomy raspberries - there's just a lot of flavour, full stop. If you want to drink a luxurious wine tonight, and you have a lot of dosh to spare: this is guaranteed to deliver. All depends on what you're into. Nice tannin structure too it has to be said. Drink: 2007-2015. 94 points. Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front Superb colour; exceptional mouthfeel courtesy of fine, ripe tannins seamlessly woven through the velvet curtain of black fruits; the flavours echo repeatedly around the mouth. 14.5º alc. Rating 96 points Drink 2030 $125 Date Tasted Aug 07 James Halliday Wine Companion 2009
|
||||||