2024 Torbreck Viognier, Eden Valley

High above the Barossa floor, Eden Valley provides the altitude and cooler nights that Viognier needs to hold perfume and line. Torbreck was founded in the 1990s by David Powell with a vision inspired by the Rhône, and today Chief Winemaker Ian Hongell continues that focus on site driven, old vine expressions shaped by careful élevage. While best known for Shiraz, Torbreck has long drawn on Rhône inspiration, and Viognier fits naturally into that story.

Fruit is harvested to balance ripeness with freshness, preserving aromatic intensity without tipping into heaviness. Fermentation is handled with precision to protect florals and texture, and maturation is typically in a mix of stainless steel and seasoned oak to build breadth while retaining clarity. The goal is a Viognier that is generous yet controlled, reflecting Eden Valley’s cooler influence rather than pure opulence.

Pale gold in colour, the aromas open with apricot, white peach and mandarin layered with jasmine, honeysuckle and subtle spice. The palate is medium bodied and textural, with stone fruit richness balanced by bright acidity and a gentle phenolic grip. Flavours of nectarine and citrus peel flow into a long, perfumed finish that remains fresh and composed.

It pairs beautifully with roast chicken, pork, seafood in aromatic sauces and Middle Eastern spiced dishes. Drinking beautifully now for its fragrance and texture, it will cellar comfortably for five to eight years, gaining honeyed and savoury complexity.