Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Torbreck is among Australia's top producers!

Showing enormous intensity and length, the 2018 Les Amis Grenache is a tremendous success. Yes, the oak slightly overshadows the fruit on the nose, where cedary notes ride easily over ripe cherries, but it recedes into the background in the mouth, allowing waves of black cherries, red raspberries and exotic spice notes to come forward and expand on the full-bodied palate. Plush and creamy-textured, it's nevertheless refined and elegant on the finish, which turns silky and spicy, with lingering notes of red berries, licorice and cola.

In the 27 years since its founding in 1994, Torbreck has become one of the icons of Australian wine, championing the old-vine treasures of the Barossa. This year's releases include stunning versions of the winery's top cuvées: The Laird, Les Amis and RunRig. All three rate 97 points or better, with the 2018 RunRig being this taster's personal favorite for its superb balance. Not far behind is the 2018 Descendant, which sells for a fraction of the price and is more approachable as well. That's the one that shrewd wine drinkers will seek out. Fortunately for those of us with skinnier wallets, even Torbreck's other bottlings are excellent, with special mention going to the 2018 Hillside Vineyard Grenache, from vines planted in 1949, and the 2018 The Gask, from Eden Valley vines planted in 1960. Even the entry-level Woodcutter's line is solid, with the 2020 Rosé, 2020 Semillon and 2019 Shiraz all scoring 88-90 points. In short, for consumers seeking bold, flavorful wines that reflect their origins,