2003 Torbreck Shiraz “Descendant”. Barossa Valley, Australia. 14.5% alcohol. $100.
Deep purple with an intensely plumy scent and hints of black pepper, raw beef, soy sauce, chalk, vanilla, and blackberry. Richly flavorful with excellent length, fine but slightly firm tannin, and unobtrusive acidity. Oak is well integrated. Very attractive chocolaty fruit on the finish. 92% Shiraz and 8% Viognier from the Marananga vineyard. These ten year old vines were started with cuttings from an old RunRig vineyard (hence the wine’s name). The Shiraz and Viognier are co-fermented and then aged for 18 months in two and a half year old French oak (when new these barrels were used for the RunRig). This wine is beginning to shut down – it was much more exuberant when it was first released. Drink 2010 to 2015+. 94 points.