Torbreck - Les Amis 2022

Druvor

Grenache

Tasting note

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

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Torbreck rated #30 winery in Australia : The Real Review Top Wineries of Australia 2023

Se specifikation

Torbreck was established by Dave Powell in 1994, and from the very beginning, the wines have been no stranger to drama of the very best kind: high international acclaim driven by their power and sense of place. So here, the Grenache wines are made, as is typical for Torbreck, absolutely in their own style, unbending to the trends of the time. These are powerfully ripe, structural wines, some of which are certain to put hairs on the chest, but all of which are balanced and complex as well. The Les Amis (you don't say "lay ah-mee," rather "lez ah-mee," for what it's worth) hails from a single vineyard in Greenock, grown on low-yielding, dry-grown vines, and it matured for 18 months in French oak barriques, a significant portion of which were new. The Les Amis vineyard sits at 320 meters in elevation, atop a strata of blue stone, schist and ironstone over a clay bedrock. By contrast, the Hillside Vineyard Grenache is from dry-grown bush vines on the estate property just north of the town of Lyndoch. The wine is much lighter in style, owing to partial whole-bunch fermentation and to the élevage in large-format French oak foudre. The soil composition of the site comprises mostly dark red clay scattered with shale, quartzite and ironstone. 

A bit of the history: From successful beginnings in 1994, the company went into receivership in 2002 and was purchased by Australian businessman Jack Cowin. In 2008, ownership was then passed on to American billionaire Peter Kight (owner of Quivira Winery in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma). In 2013, founder and winemaker Dave Powell finished up at Torbreck, although much heartache and controversy surrounded the outcome—his operational role and involvement in the company came to an end. In 2016, Ian Hongell (winemaker) and Nigel Blieschke (viticulturist) began their tenure. The impact of Powell cannot be overstated, but nor is he the only piece to the puzzle. The stories surrounding Powell continually blur the line between myth, legend and man, and yet one thing remains constant throughout all: his passion, vivacity and intensity spurred on many great winemakers who worked with him to go on and do great things. It could be said then that, from colorful beginnings, we now exist in a comparatively peaceful era, one that recognizes the solid foundations that were laid down in the beginning, around old-vine vineyards and a sense of "place" in the wines and which continually builds upon these central tenets.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

 

Les Amis translates from the French as The Friends.

The wine making team - Torbreck