Torbreck Les Amis Grenache 2021

Product Information: An intricate Grenache with perfume of violets, kirsch and concentrated red berry aromas with a succulent, dense and vibrant fruit intensity. Sourced from the devigorated soils of western Greenock, Les Amis is a testament to what only the most fastidious farming can achieve – purity, intensity and finesse. The concentration, poise and elegance is perfectly balanced and typical of this unique terroir. Revealing a savoury elegance in its youth, the Les Amis will continue to build in complexity for many years to come. Matured for 24 months French barrique 40% of which was new. Maker: Torbreck is a winery on a mission to become one of the world’s great wine brands. Since 1994, they have remained committed to creating exceptional Rhone-style red and white wines that reflect the very best vineyards in Australia’s famous Barossa region. Provenance is everything to them, and they believe that the Barossa is the most exciting place to make wine in the world. With a European sense of tradition, Torbreck pays tribute to the vineyards with minimal intervention, creating wines of richness, structure and length that age gracefully. The multi-generational growers, whose descendants arrived here nearly two centuries ago, are the backbone of Torbreck’s winemaking aspirations. They work in partnership with the people of the Barossa who grow their fruit, always aiming to get the very best out of their vineyard sites. At Torbreck, they constantly seek to understand the difference between all of these special places in the Barossa and how this combination of soil, climate and farming experience is reflected in unique grape flavors. They are simply custodians, enhancing the innate expressiveness of the wines and enabling them to reveal over time their individual origins and personality. Torbreck is actually named after the forest near Inverness, Scotland where the winery’s founder, David Powell worked as a lumberjack after completing university studies. Philosophy: The 2021 summer growing season was mild, with even and cool daily temperatures throughout. Enhanced by good rains provided during the winter and spring of 2020, our vineyards grew wonderful canopies and developed well-formed grape bunches. As a result of this long flavour development cycle in the vineyard, 2021’s signature is wines of high aromatic lift with densely coloured tints and exceptional balance. The winemaking style at Torbreck is meticulous and dedicated to producing exceptional wines. They use carefully selected 225-litre oak barriques for maturation, known as Dominique Laurent ‘Magic Casks’. The oak is personally harvested from Forêt de Tronçais in Allier, and the staves are aged for 48 to 54 months at an exposed location for maximum seasoning. The staves are then hand-made into barrels and heated over three differing flames for several hours, resulting in a gentle toast due to the remarkable density of the wood. Torbreck’s winemaking style reflects their commitment to producing exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Barossa region. Nose – Wild Red Berries, Dried Raspberries, Five Spice Aromatic red fruits such as dried raspberry, red cherry, pomegranate, red currant and cranberry. Petrichor, balanced by cinnamon spice and vanilla pod. Palate – Pomegranate, Sarsaparilla, Cloves The palate is sumptuous and decadent with mouth-filling fruits, texture and depth. Finish – Cinnamon Spice, Vanilla Pod, Star Anise Finishing with cleansing acidity that elongates the finish. In a milder vintage – and with a little whole-bunch ferment – it throws long and revleals a little more of itself when, somtimes, Les Amis can feel impenetrable. – Sarah Ahmed, Decanter, 95 Points. Contemplative, clam, solid, and powerfully proportioned, this wine is a great success because behind the mass of fruit, there is beautiful, cleansing freshness. – Matthew Jukes, 18.5/20 Points. From Greenock. Single, easterly aspect vineyard planted in the 1960s on red clay loam over deep red clay and ironstone. Ungrafted at an elevation of 320 m (1,050 ft). Seven days on skins, open-top stainless-steel fermenter. 10% whole bunch and matured in French barriques (a combination of 1st, 2nd and 3rd fill). Pumped over twice daily. Unfiltered. Winemaker Ian Hongell (started 2017). Very ripe fruit but not raisined. Sweet and leathery and just a touch minty. Thick, rich but there’s still life and freshness in the fruit even if it is rather hard work, especially at 15%. Rich, concentrated, drink in small sips. Good in its style but personally I find it oaky and alcoholic. – Julia Harding, JancisRobinson.com The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Grenache Country –