2023 Torbreck The Descendant Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley

Descended from RunRig, and made from Shiraz and Viognier, this is always a spectacular wine, and it usually packs an extraordinary perfume. The cooler 2023 has heightened the aromatics to an extraordinarily penetrative level, and you can smell the spice, pepper, and iodine from a foot away! This is, without doubt, one of the most Olympic perfumes of all time. In addition, the acidity is high-tensile, and the chassis shows more rigidity and coolness throughout. And then there are the tannins that rake at the dirt like bullocks straining to be unleashed. And yet, with all this drama, the palate is pristine, alluring, hypnotic and evisceratingly cool.

19.5/20 points Matthew Jukes, June 2026

Deep crimson. Intense black and red cherry, stone fruit aromas with praline notes. Richly concentrated, smooth and velvety with lovely pure black cherry, apricot flavours, chocolaty tannins and underlying marzipan, vanilla notes. Finishes gravelly with apricotty strawberry star anise notes. A very well-balanced signature style. Around 98% shiraz, 2% viognier. Now–2040

97 points Andrew Caillard & Jeni Port for The Vintage Journal, August 2023

The 2023 Descendant is a single-vineyard wine composed of co-fermented Shiraz (96%) and Viognier. The vineyard was planted in 1994 for Torbreck, and the old cuttings used for the planting were from great old heritage blocks around the district. Aromatically, the wine is classically Descendant—meaty, floral, savory and earthy, with mineral tannins and sandalwood as well. There is a fresh juniper character alongside the dark fruit. The intensity of tannin endures long beyond the flavor. The cool season has birthed a wine of great concentration and length, which demands time. Drink to 2043.

96+ points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, April 2026

Amazing floral apricot, black cherry and blackberry fruit on the nose. So exotic. The palate has ripe black fruits but also great definition, with a slight gravelly, savoury edge.

96 points Jamie Goode for Wineanorak, May 2026

A co-fermented Barossa Valley blend of 96/4% shiraz/viognier. There's a leading apricot kernel note to the proceedings before the plush doris plum, dark cherry and blueberry fruits flex their muscles and flow through. There's hints of sandalwood, clove, baking spices, dried citrus rind, roasting and dried meats, wildflowers and warm earth. Silky and fruit pure with abundant energy and a lovely tension between fruit and acidity, the finish drawn out with silty, toothsome tannins and an enchanting sense of harmony. Drink to 2046.

96 points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, August 2026

Lifted notes of rose oil mix with blackcurrant coulis, rosemary and chocolate dipped raspberries. The palate is chewy and textured, florals and fruits giving way to iodine flavours and an inky swathe of tannins. There's a gamut of flavours on show, supported by a backbone of tannins that's reluctant to give way in its youth. Tuck this one away in the cellar. Drink to 2038.

96 points Gabrielle Poy for The Real Review, May 2026

Deep, dense, glass staining purple-red colour. Black fruits on the nose, along with graphite, ironstone and seed spices. Peppery notes underlying in accord with sumptuous blackberry and dark-plum fruit, maybe a twist of licorice too, and with airing a whiff of apricotty viognier is evident. This has a lot going on, and the palate is powerfiul and long-lasting with real depth and panache. The tannins are abundant and deliciously supple. A big red with grace. Drink to 2046.

96 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, March 2026

The Descendant sits just below RunRig in the Torbreck hierarchy, but in many vintages it delivers equal gravitas. Torbreck was founded in the 1990s by David Powell with a vision inspired by the great wines of the Rhône, built around ancient Barossa vineyards and traditional techniques. Today the estate is led by Chief Winemaker Ian Hongell, who continues the philosophy of old vine sourcing, careful maturation and site transparency. The Descendant draws primarily from very old vine Shiraz, often blended with a small but crucial portion of Viognier, echoing Côte Rôtie tradition while remaining unmistakably Barossa.

Fruit is hand harvested from low yielding, dry grown vines rooted in ancient soils. Fermentation is managed to build depth and fine tannin, with the Viognier co fermented to lift aromatics and texture. Maturation takes place in high quality French oak, adding structure and polish without masking the vineyard’s power. The result is a wine that marries density with perfume and structure.

Deep crimson in colour, the aromas open with blackberry, plum and dark cherry layered with violet, graphite and subtle spice. The palate is full bodied yet composed, with concentrated dark fruit wrapped in firm, polished tannins and balanced acidity. Notes of black fruit, savoury earth and fine oak carry into a long, powerful finish.

It pairs beautifully with slow roasted lamb, beef short ribs and richly flavoured dishes. While impressive in its youth with decanting, it will cellar confidently for twenty years or more, gaining complexity and tertiary depth.