TORBRECK RunRig - Barossa Valley 1995 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Torbreck RunRig 1995 is an imposing, fully evolved Barossa blend marrying powerful Shiraz with Grenache and Mourvèdre complexity. Deep garnet with an amber rim, it offers black cherry, plum conserve and dried fig, then leather, saddle wax, tapenade and porcini with notes of dark chocolate and tobacco. Full bodied yet lithe, plush texture and softened velvety tannins frame stewed blackberry, prune and a savoury mid palate of smoked meat, dried herbs and mineral iron. Integrated oak adds spice and a toasted coffee finish. Bright acidity preserves lift and balance. Pairs exquisitely with roast lamb, braised beef, venison and mature hard cheeses and truffle dishes. Best decanted and enjoyed now. Drink 2026 to 2032. Critic: The Wine Advocate 96 "Holding beautifully."

ABOUT THIS WINE
Torbreck RunRig 1995 is an imposing and fully evolved expression from one of the Barossa Valley’s benchmark red blends, marrying powerful Shiraz intensity with Grenache and Mourvèdre complexity to produce a wine of depth, savoury elegance and remarkable persistence. The colour is a deep garnet with an amber rim that betrays significant bottle age while still retaining a concentrated core. The nose is richly layered: mature black fruit of black cherry and plum conserve sits alongside dried fig and cassis, and with time in the glass tertiary aromas of leather, saddle wax and worn cedar emerge. Savoury complexities of olive tapenade, cured meat and soy reduction mingle with undergrowth, dried porcini and subtle truffle notes, while a background of dark chocolate, tobacco and a faint aniseed spice adds nuance.

On the palate the wine is full bodied yet surprisingly lithe for its weight, the once vigorous tannic spine softened into a velvety but still supportive frame. Primary fruit has evolved to more dried and stewed tones, blackberry compote, prune and black plum, balanced by lively acidity that preserves lift and keeps the wine from becoming heavy. The mid palate shows concentrated savoury layers of leather, dried herbs and smoked meat, with an enduring mineral and iron seam that lends structure and drive. Oak influence is integrated, contributing gentle spice, clove and a toasty, slightly coffee like finish rather than dominating the profile.

Texture is plush and enveloping with a long, resonant finish that closes on savoury coffee, tobacco and a persistent note of sweet dried fruit. The 1995 vintage has mellowed into an accessible, complex stage where tertiary development is entirely on show.

This bottle is best enjoyed now; decanting will help open aromatics and clarity. Drink 2026 to 2032. Match with rich roasted or braised red meats such as beef short rib, roast lamb shoulder, venison with juniper, slow cooked ossobuco, mature hard cheeses or dishes with earthy mushrooms and truffle to complement the wine’s developed savoury profile.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 96 points
Reviewed by: Erin Larkin
Drink Date: 2025 - 2035
The 1995 RunRig leads with cocoa, clove, roasted meat and tapenade. It has leather and autumn leaves, and on the palate, the core of fruit here is silky and fresh. It's a nostalgic wine that time has rendered elegant and medium-bodied. This was the first RunRig made, and it is holding beautifully, with a decade or more left to go. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

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ABOUT TORBRECK
Torbreck is a distinguished Barossa producer celebrated for powerful, savoury red wines that combine dense fruit concentration with pronounced spice and age worthy structure. Founded in the 1990s by David Powell, the estate built its reputation by championing old vine Shiraz and by sourcing from prized Barossa parcels and neighbouring Eden Valley sites. From small batch, open fermentations to extended maturation in selected oak, Torbreck’s style emphasises ripe dark fruit, pepper and dried herb notes together with a compelling saline mineral undercurrent that speaks to site specificity.

The property is owned by Treasury Wine Estates, whose stewardship has provided capital for vineyard care, cellar investment and broader market distribution while allowing the Torbreck team to preserve the signature house style. Under corporate ownership Torbreck has continued to prioritise single vineyard expression, careful selection of parcels and maintenance of old vine blocks that contribute depth and complexity to top cuvees.

Vineyards include both estate holdings and long term grower contracts across the Barossa valley and Eden Valley, encompassing a range of soils and exposures. Vine age varies from centennial bush vines to younger plantings, and viticultural practice focuses on low yields, canopy management and selective hand harvesting to secure physiological ripeness and concentrated flavour. Attention to soil health and vine longevity is central to preserving the character of the best sites.

Winemaking is conducted in small lots with meticulous sorting and an emphasis on whole berry and whole bunch techniques where a parcel merits it. Fermentations are managed to balance gentle extraction with aromatic purity, followed by extended élevage in French and American oak chosen to complement rather than overpower fruit. The cellar team undertakes careful blending trials to refine balance, tension and ageing potential.

Stylistically Torbreck produces muscular yet elegant Shiraz and complementary varietal and blended wines that show blackberry, plum, spice, olive and leather, with tannins that carry structure through a long finish. The wines reward patient cellaring and remain a benchmark for concentrated Barossa expression.