Torbreck Cuvée Juveniles 2023

Torbreck is a winery on a mission to become one of the world's great wine brands. Since 1994, they have remained committed to creating exceptional Rhone-style red and white wines that reflect the very best vineyards in Australia's famous Barossa region. Provenance is everything to them, and they believe that the Barossa is the most exciting place to make wine in the world. With a European sense of tradition, Torbreck pays tribute to the vineyards with minimal intervention, creating wines of richness, structure and length that age gracefully. The multi-generational growers, whose descendants arrived here nearly two centuries ago, are the backbone of Torbreck's winemaking aspirations. They work in partnership with the people of the Barossa who grow their fruit, always aiming to get the very best out of their vineyard sites. At Torbreck, they constantly seek to understand the difference between all of these special places in the Barossa and how this combination of soil, climate and farming experience is reflected in unique grape flavors. They are simply custodians, enhancing the innate expressiveness of the wines and enabling them to reveal over time their individual origins and personality. Torbreck is actually named after the forest near Inverness, Scotland where the winery's founder, David Powell worked as a lumberjack after completing university studies.

The winemaking style at Torbreck is meticulous and dedicated to producing exceptional wines. They use carefully selected 225-litre oak barriques for maturation, known as Dominique Laurent 'Magic Casks'. The oak is personally harvested from Forêt de Tronçais in Allier, and the staves are aged for 48 to 54 months at an exposed location for maximum seasoning. The staves are then hand-made into barrels and heated over three differing flames for several hours, resulting in a gentle toast due to the remarkable density of the wood. Torbreck's winemaking style reflects their commitment to producing exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Barossa region.

The Cuvée Juveniles wine is a bistro-style blend inspired by the Cotes Du Rhone region and made with classic Barossa grape varieties, including Grenache, Mataro (Mourvedre), and Shiraz, sourced primarily from unirrigated old vine vineyards. In addition to these three varietals, Torbreck has also planted Counoise and Carignan to add a layer of complexity, depth, and spicy notes to the blend. This wine is designed to appeal to those who appreciate French wines, while still capturing the hearts of Barossa wine fans. With great aging potential, the Cuvée Juveniles is a sophisticated yet approachable wine that is sure to delight all palates.

The Torbreck Cuvée Juveniles is a wine that bears the unmistakable signature of a mild and even summer growing season. With the help of ample rains in the winter and spring of 2021, the vineyards were able to produce luscious canopies and exceptional grape bunches that matured beautifully. This has resulted in wines with a rich aromatic character that boast densely coloured tints and remarkable balance. The old vine Grenache, a longtime favourite, is on full display again, enchanting the palate with lifted florals and juicy red fruits like wild cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate. The addition of Counoise and Carignan, two classic Rhone varietals, provides a savoury complexity that beautifully complements the beef jerky and Chinese five spice aromas of Mataro. On the palate, this Rhone blend boasts a medium-bodied texture that is both lithe and plush, with long acidity that balances a fresh fruitiness and a slightly firmer tannin profile than previous vintages. The wine pairs beautifully with a variety of cuisines, including spicy dishes and should be served chilled to around 16 degrees Celsius. With a combination of stainless steel and large format French oak foudre maturation, the Torbreck Cuvée Juveniles boasts bright crimson and cherry hues in color, with scents of red cherries, pomegranate and Chinese five spice paired with meaty tones. This wine ages beautifully and can be cellared for up to 7 years.

Aromas of graphite, slate, and dark berry with some nutmeg. Medium-bodied with attractive fruit and fine, delicate tannins that give form to the wine and deliver fresh and medium fruit on the finish. So drinkable and delicious. Very savory. The crushed black pepper really comes through. 47% grenache, 32% mataro, 10% carignan, 9% counoise, and 2% syrah. - James Suckling, 94 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Grenache, Mataro, Counoise, Carignan, Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.5%