2006
Torbreck
BarossaValley
Woodcutter’sShiraz
$25.95
$24.95
CSPC# 927533
(D) 14.5%
April 12, 2008 Vintages Release
August 2, 2008 Vintages Release
(832 cases of 12)
NOTE: PJ’s Wine shop in Manhattan sells this wine for $15.97.
Wine Spectator (US)
Issue: October 17, 2007 – Harvey Steiman
88 pts Editor’s Pick
“Smooth, open-textured and expressive. Redolent of sandalwood among the cherry flavors, finishing with fine tannins. Drink now. 22,000 cases made. $20US.”
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Jay Miller (US)
Issue: October 2007 – Issue# 173 - Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
92 pts
“The 2006 Woodcutter’s Shiraz was sourced from six sub-regions of the Barossa. The wine was aged for 12 months in large, neutral French oak and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Purple-colored, it has an attractive array of pepper, spicy blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry muffin aromas. Full-bodied and opulent on the palate, the wine delivers gobs of meaty, full-flavored blue and black fruits to accompany its forward, easy-going personality. Drink this incredible value over the next 4-6 years.”
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Wine Enthusiast (US)
Issue:
91 pts
“Torbreck’s entry-level Shiraz boasts lovely aromas of blueberries and spice, with a hint of pepper. On the palate, blueberries and blackberries shine, and the texture is lush, tightening up just enough on the finish. This is a blend of 78 different lots, according to winemaker David Powell, mainly matured in old, large wood. Drink now-2014.”
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Josh Raynalds (US)
Issue: Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
90 pts
“Pretty complex for an entry-level wine, and with textbook syrah character. Finishes with sweet cherry and cassis flavors and excellent length.”
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Gary Walsh (AUS(
Issue: November 2007 - Winorama
91 pts
“I had a quick slurp of this during Melbourne Cup office festivities (it being one of of the reds supplied for the event) and liked it enough to write a quick note.
Smells good with juicy black cherries, black pepper, violet, an attractive meaty character and some licorice. On the palate no surprises and again the juicy black fruit, plum, spice and a subtle earthiness. It is full bodied and fruit driven with soft tannins and very high drinkability. If I were forced to do a performance review by a loathsome HR department then this would easily get a ‘Met expectations’ rating. Drink : 2007 – 2010.”
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Nicks Wine (AUS)
Issue: May 12, 2007
93 pts 5 stars (out of 5)
“Very deep black crimson mauve colour with crimson mauve hue. Top note of liquorice and spice followed by dark chocolate, ripe plum and black pepper. Generous palate flavours of ripe primary fruit, with plum, liquorice and spice dominant. Soft tannins. Aftertaste of spice, liquorice and plum. Cellar 2-3 years (2009-2010). Alc/Vol: 14.5%. $17.95.”
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Beppi Crosariol (CAN)
Issue: August 2, 2008 – Globe and Mail
Recommended
“I would be remiss in speaking of monster oak influence without invoking the name Torbreck. I’ve never visited this Australian winery, beloved of influential American critic Robert Parker, but I imagine it to be a giant log cabin. The red wines make no secret of their time in wood. And the appropriately named Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz 2006 ($24.95, No. 0927533; $32.99 in British Columbia, No. 78154) is nothing if not a crowd pleaser for Frappuccino Nation. In most, though not all, years, including this 2006, it’s quite a compelling oak bomb, I must say. This one is a chocolate-covered espresso bean that walks like a wine, brimming with concentrated dark-skinned fruits, wood spice and a liqueur-like warmth, with good acidity and black-pepper spice to keep things lively on the finish.”
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Michael Vaughan (CAN)
Issue: August 2, 2008 – Vintage Assessments
2 – 2 ½ stars (out of 3)Recommended
“JUICY BLACK CHERRIES **/**+. Extremely deep intense purple colour. Very spicy, slightly sweet, smoky nose with juicy, ripe black cherry and vanilla stick notes. Dryish, well balanced, spicy, medium bodied, somewhat jammy, ripe plum, black cherry and vanilla flavours with a lingering, slightly sweetish finish. Screwcap closure. Sourced from six sub-regions of the Barossa, this wine was aged for 12 months in large, neutral French oak and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Screwcap closure. A repeat of the 2006 (although with a different bottling lot number) which was released on April 12, 2008 at $25.95.”
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Mark Tandan (CAN)
Issue: April 12, 2008 – Winecurrent
4 stars (out of 5)
“The BarossaValley is one hot place, as this ultra-ripe style illustrates. Aromas of very ripe black berry and blueberry are highlighted, with a touch of vanilla and a slightly candied nuance. Classic peppery notes of Shiraz make an appearance on the palate, which is quite full bodied (14.5%). The wine maintains a seam of acidity and soft tannins to provide good balance on its rich frame. It’ll overpower all but the richest of dishes, so go for a grilled filet smothered in Gorgonzola.”
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Rod Phillips (CAN)
Issue: August 2, 2008 – Wine Pointer
4 stars (out of 5)
“Look for sweet fruit at the core of this Shiraz, surrounded by nicely layered flavours. It’s rich, dense and quite luscious, with an edgy, slightly tangy texture. Drink it now and over the next five years with grilled red meats.”
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Rod Phillips (CAN)
Issue: April 8, 2008 – Wine Pointer
3 ½ stars (out of 5)
“This has layers of flavours, but the dominant impression is of very ripe fruit that cross the border into jammyland and threatens to overwhelm the intrinsic complexity of the wine. If you like Shiraz in the big, full-fruit style, with a texture verging on the viscous, you’ll enjoy this one.”
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Alan Kerr (CAN)
Issue: April 12, 2008 – Gang of Pour
Recommended
“Earthy and barnyard notes are followed by layers of black fruit and red liquorish. A spicy mid palate shows tons of ground black pepper and concentrated blueberry and other sweet fruits. Good wine, although a trifle flabby on the finish.”
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Michael Pinkus (CAN)
Issue: August 2, 2008 – Ontario Wine Review
Recommended
“big 14.5% alcohol, very flavourful and well-made Shiraz; black fruit, pepper and spicy – yum.”
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Michael Pinkus (CAN)
Issue: April 12, 2008 – Ontario Wine Review
Recommended
“Speaking of exceptional, the Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz ($25.95 - #927533) is back – this 2006 version is spicy, peppery and juicy – a great wine as always, and one you can lie down for a few years.”
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K&L Wines (US)
Issue:
Recommended
“Sourced from hand-harvested, low yielding vines (in this case 100% Shiraz). It is then open fermented and gently basket pressed, and aged on fine lees for 12 months in large format seasoned barrels and foudres. We love its complexity and texture. Supple and so elegant, especially considering the price.”
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Jon Bonne (US)
Issue: February 18, 2008 – San Francisco Chronicle
Recommended
“This affordable Shiraz from one of the Barossa’s best is a tribute to the time founder David Powell spent as a lumberjack in the Scottish forest called Torbreck (hence the winery’s name). Aged for a year in large oak barrels and casks, it’s packed with lots of eggnog spice and toasty, ripe plum and blackberry. But there’s edginess amid the lush fruit, and even more spice on the end. Just don’t get the urge to play with lumber after you try a glass.”
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Producer
VARIETY: 100% Shiraz
REGION: Marananga, Greenock, Ebenezer, Gomersal, Moppa & Kalimna.
VINTAGE: 2006
VINEYARD: The name Woodcutter’s stems from David Powell’s several years spent workingthe Scottish Highlands as a lumberjack in the Torbreck forest. This wine reflectsthe up & coming Shiraz vineyards of the Barossa.
VINIFICATION: Like all wines in the Torbreck stable, the fruit is sourced from hand harvested andhand tended plots throughout the NorthwesternBarossaValley. It is fermented inour cement, wooden and inox vats for 6-7 days and then basket pressed to wellseasoned hogsheads and French oak foudres for 12 months. It is bottled withoutthe use of either fining or filtration.
PALATE: Dense, rich and opulent, this wine combines great fruit purity with texture,complexity and finesse.
CELLARING: Whilst offering immense pleasure in its youth the 2006 Woodcutter’s Shiraz will nodoubt develop along a similar path to the 2002 & 2004 vintages with a few yearsin the cellar.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Harvest Date: March/April 2006
Winemaker: David Powell
Alcohol: 14.4%
Titratable Acidity: 5.68g/l
pH: 3.68
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Resources
Merchandising sheet from Hancocks of NZ
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