2004 Torbreck Juveniles

A noteworthy buy is the 2004 Juveniles, which represents Torbreck’s version of a Barossa Valley Cotes du Rhone on steroids. A 6,000-case, tank-fermented and aged blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 20% Shiraz, it exhibits peppery, sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, kirsch liqueur, and spice box aromas. A sexy, heady wine with loads of glycerin, medium to full body, a silky texture, and a meaty, long finish, it should drink well for 2-4 years. David Powell, unquestionably one of the world’s finest wine producers, has an uncanny ability to discover old vine Barossa vineyards, and then secure long term contracts for their fruit. It is amazing that such high quality sources have not already been plucked by Australia’s giant wine corporations. Torbreck’s wines continue to get better and better, combining the old vine ripe fruit of Barossa with a European sensitivity to elegance and balance. The finest wines in this portfolio are pricy, but David Powell delivers some remarkable reds and whites at prices that are more than fair for the quality in the bottle. Importer: Deborah Gray, The Australian Wine Connection, Carlsbad, CA; tel. (760) 438-5714