The sun’s just come out in Adelaide and I’m readying myself for a day of jollity in the Barossa Valley. Got myself into the zone last night with one of the best young Australian reds I’ve ever had. I was with about 15 others in Goodlife Pizza on Hutt Street, and there were several bottles on the table. but the one that people couldn’t stop talking about – or drinking – was this gem from Torbreck.
OK, not quite the wine in the pic above – that’s from the inaugural 2009 vintage. But the 2010 we guzzled with gusto last night was just a mouthful of joyful, gluggable bramble and berry fruit, pepped up with spicy floral characters and a refreshingly earthy finish. To all those other Grenache growers in South Australia, please, please can we have some more wines like this. It was one of those wines that normally generous people ended up hogging at their end of the table, and it completely blew the socks off that cleavage wine Clarendon Hills Astralis – which everyone tried, but no one retried. But then why would you bother hanging out with the Incredible Hulk when Catwoman is on the prowl?
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So how long are you in Oz for Simon, and is the trip all about wine?
Having been snowed in at home for 3 days last week I envy you the weather………….
Yes, all about wine – I did get an hour off yesterday morning for good behaviour, but otherwise it’s wall to wall work, and I’m sleeping in 9 different beds in my 11 nights here…
After learning of your enthusiasm for this wine, I bludged a bottle when I went to see shy David at Torbreck. I drank it that evening with my mates Joch Bosworth and Louise Hemsley-Smith of Battle of Bosworth wines in McLaren Vale. Of all the wines I bludged that week – and that includes stuff from Bob McLean, Shaw + Smith and Penfolds – this was the one that we enjoyed most. Like you, we found it immensely moreish and drinkable. I agree that more of this stuff should be made in the Barossa rather than impenetrable wines with sledgehammer tannins and 16+% booze. I hope that you had a good trip and see you in 2011!