RWP 87; Winetex 80; $17

This one was drinkable but very young and very tannic. It seemed like a major Aussie fruit bomb until you got to the nasty tannic twang at the end. I don't see this one aging or improving very much.

I did save the bottle and will report if it improves tomorrow. Unlikely.

Winetex, how's the acidity? Is there enough? Too oaky? Not enough fruit? Why don't you think this will improve with age when the tannins start melt a little...

Hi

I haven't tried the wine, but 2001 in South Australia (read Barossa Valley) was quite hot. The wines will be naturally quite tannic, but should have heaps of flavour with it.

If the fruit is there, the wine should age well, and taste great as the tannins soften, its only 18 months old or so?

Just my thoughts.

I bought a bottle of this a couple months ago to try, and to see if it was a quantity buy. For $17.99 it was not bad, but there are others in this price range I prefer more. These are my TN's

A dark cherry red color wine with a slight opaque clarity. The nose on this offers aromas of red cherry, raspberry, green tobacco, and weedy underbrush. On the palate clean pure flavors of cherry and blackberries preceed a "dusty vegetal" flavor I cannot put a name to, and a pine type flavor (not bad) . Midpalate is lacking, tannins are thin, though sufficient.

Upon further review this morning - It seemed like it had OK acidity and mainly it's a baby as Gavin notes.

Maybe I'm just unfamiliar with this style because I've really enjoyed all the Torbreck wines I've had except for this one. I have another bottle but will wait 6 months to open it.

As Seek notes there was a note of "weedy underbrush" that you might normally find in a young cab. Perhaps this is just a function of it's youth. Only time will tell! It rates an "incomplete" grade at the moment from me.

Bottle #2 - I hope that these were simply bad bottles, maybe cooked??. This wine was just nasty - it tasted like the side of your kitchen sink. We threw it out.

Better luck to everyone else on this one.

I am kind of wondering what the side of a kitchen sink tastes like

alohaj...


Similar to the bottom, only crustier!

I don't want to experience this particular descriptor - it's only in my imagination!

Mr. Winetex's comment was , "Ewww, nasty... What IS that?"

Well folks, you're gonna love this one. I didn't have near the same experience as everybody else. Here are my notes:

2001 Torbreck Woodcutter’s Red
Barossa Valley, Australia

13% alcohol. Purchased locally at Central Market for $15.99.

Decanted for 1 hour before serving in Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glasses. This wine exhibits a garnet color that has a slight brownish tinge to it midway between the rim and bowl of the glass. Clarity is good throughout. The nose comes across with powerful red fruits consisting of berries and cherries, leather and a little pepper or spice. The tannins are smooth, giving way to the bright, young and refreshing acidity of the wine. Flavors on the palate are simple and straightforward, mostly consisting of red cherry and raspberry. There was just a whisper of mocha on the finish. Alcohol seems to be just right in this lively young wine. Although this is a simple wine it does seem to be of an agreeable weight and fairly well integrated. I would score this wine in the mid to high 80’s and would recommend it for its’ good value. Drink now or over the next couple of years. Should be hitting its’ peak anytime if it hasn’t already made it there.

wiml...
Fine. So you got the good bottle!

Or this thing has settled down. It's not a powerhouse by any stretch of the imagination but not bad enough to use in cleaning engine parts.

Glad it was better for you!

WIML,
My expirience is certainly closer to yours than Winetex's.

This must be a palate thing because I really enjoyed this wine (admittedly, I am a fan of Torbreck's style). This was not your all-too-typical overblown, overoaked, overripe, jammy Aussie shiraz. It was firm and had good acidity. Great blueberry, rasberry, liqueur and spice flavors. Nice, moderately lengthy finish.

I regret that I only bought six. Drinking well right now. I agree with the WS 89 and WA 90. I would give this wine a solid 90 points.