2022 Torbreck RunRig Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley

I guess you could call the RunRig a modern Barossa classic. 98/2% shiraz/viognier, it's an epic wine, a solid plinth of black and blues fruits deeply etched with exotic spice and earth. Hints of clove, star anise, Old Gold chocolate, licorice, pan juices, earth, dried meats, rose petals, black tea and graphite. Unctuous with great length of flavour and fine, silty tannins suffusing through the wine, it's a study in power and purity, light and shade and all that is great about ancient Barossa shiraz vines. Another great RunRig release.

97 points Dave Brookes winecompanion.com.au

Torbreck RunRig Shiraz Viognier from the Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s most revered and collectible red wines, often described as the “Grange of the modern era.” It’s a majestic blend of old-vine Shiraz with a touch of Viognier, inspired by the great Côte-Rôties of the Northern Rhône but unmistakably Barossan in power and soul. Created by Torbreck founder David Powell and now crafted by winemaker Ian Hongell, RunRig represents the pinnacle of Torbreck’s philosophy: celebrating ancient Barossa vineyards and Rhône-style craftsmanship with remarkable precision and depth.

The Shiraz for RunRig comes from some of the oldest dry-grown vineyards in the Barossa Valley, many planted between 1858 and 1901. These ancient vines are scattered across six subregions, including Marananga, Moppa, Greenock, Seppeltsfield, Gomersal and Ebenezer, each contributing its own nuance. The Viognier component (typically 2 to 3 percent) is co-fermented to lift the aromatics and bring textural polish. Fermentation takes place in small open-top fermenters with hand plunging, and the wine is matured for 30 months in a combination of new and seasoned French oak barriques from top coopers like Dargaud & Jaeglé. Every detail of its vinification speaks to Torbreck’s focus on craft and longevity.

In the glass, RunRig is a deep, inky purple with an alluring perfume of blackberries, dark cherries, violets, graphite, licorice, star anise and fine oak spice. The palate is rich and full-bodied, yet surprisingly poised, with layers of black fruit, plum compote and dark chocolate seamlessly integrated with fine tannins and a long, mineral, savoury finish. The Viognier adds a lifted floral note and silky sheen to the texture, balancing the wine’s immense concentration. It’s a wine of structure and elegance,  intense but never heavy, that evolves beautifully in the glass and the cellar.

RunRig is built for the long haul, capable of ageing gracefully for 20 years or more. When young, it pairs magnificently with roasted venison, chargrilled ribeye, braised lamb shanks or truffled mushroom dishes. As it matures, it becomes a contemplative wine, one to savour slowly with fine company or on its own beside a crackling fire.