2010 Australia

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 Astralis is still quite primary eliciting aromas of black plums, blueberry compote and blackcurrant liqueur with a savory and baking spice undercurrent plus a fragrant whiff of violets. Very structured, fine and complex in the medium to full-bodied mouth, this wine is revealing much more than when I first tasted it a year ago and is now showing layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, mocha, toast and spices before finishing with great length. Extraordinary wine.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate - Issue#211 Feb 2014

The 2010 Grange spent 17 months in new American oak barrels, but wears this draconian oak regime with ease. Very big and rich on the nose, surprisingly savoury with hints of tapenade, blueberry fruit, dark chocolate and coffee all competing for attention.

On swirling, the glass becomes entirely coated with this viscous, dark wine. Dense, rich and powerful on the palate, reminiscent of young vintage Port in its intensity, but without the high alcohol or sweetness, in fact it's very savoury on the palate too. Notes of very dark fruit and high cocoa solid chocolate abound, but are kept in check by perfectly judged acidity and meltingly fine tannins. Dry, but immensely long and satisfying on the finish, linear and fine. This is what the best Douro table wine should be like, but seldom is, powerful and complex, yet refined and dry. Very impressive. One of the best vintages ever? It certainly has a very long life ahead of it.
Chris Pollington - Private Account Manager

Complex and alluring nose of red berry fruit, marmalade / citrus notes and a hint of violet florality (viognier!). The palate hints at darker, more blue berry fruit, overall a moreish, savoury and peppery back palate with finely grained tannins. Everything in perfect harmony. A touch shy at this stage, give it 5 – 10 years to really flourish.
Stuart Rae, Private Account manager

Torbreck see this as the most Barossa wine they produce – they’re not wrong in 2010 either. The nose of this wonderful wine strikes you immediately as very fine, very serious Australian Shiraz. This density, complexity and purity of the dark and brooding fruit is that which can only come from meticulously tended, old vines and assured, hands-off winemaking. Wines of this quality from the Barossa can be drunk young, but I would implore any buyer to cellar for this for a decade as I am sure it will evolve into one of the great Torbreck wines. Only question is, bottles, magnums or bigger?
Gary Owen, Private Account Manager

Bin 389 is often referred to as ‘Poor Man’s Grange’ or ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960, by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped to build Penfolds solid reputation with red wine drinkers. Combining the structure of Cabernet with the richness of Shiraz, Bin 389 also exemplifies Penfolds skill in judiciously balancing fruit and oak. 51% Cabernet, 49% Shiraz. Matured for 14 months in new (40%), 1 year-old (20%) and 2 year-old (20%) American oak hogsheads.


This is the Bin 389 we’ve been waiting for! How good? Well, that’s for others to say. What we will say, however, is that it is benchmark 389 – certainly the finest of this new millennia, and one that will jostle with the reputations of the Bin 389 big names (sorry, vintages) of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s! Now in its sixth decade, ‘Baby Grange’ asserts its own identity and commands its own following. It continues to evolve, enchant, embrace and excite! Serve blind and surprise. If only we could make more …
Peter Gago Penfolds Chief Winemaker

Officially The Bin Series was born in 1959. But in truth the first Bin wine was created in 1951 by the now legendary chief winemaker, Max Schubert. Back then the experimental wine was simply known as Bin 1, referring to its storage location in Penfolds cellars while ageing. 1952 was Bin 4. Later vintages carried various designations as Max continued to refine what was to eventually become the most lauded wine in Australian history. By 1964 the designation was standardised as ‘Bin 95’. Grange, as it’s more famously known, now holds a place so exalted in the pantheon of wine that in 2001, it became a national heritage icon. Grange was of such rare importance and so influential that it became the first in a long and illustrio

Launched with the 1990 vintage in 1993, Penfolds Bin 407 was developed in response to the increasing availability of high quality Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. Inspired by Penfolds Bin 707, Bin 407 offers varietal definition and approachability, yet with structure and depth of flavour. Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon, the varietally expressive Bin 407 highlights the rewards of Penfolds multi-region, multi-vineyard blending, with a core of ripe fruit supported by sensitive use of French and American oak.

The 21st release of this marquee reveals there’s quite a lot u nder the bonnet, sorry closure. Impressive vinous horsepower, thrust and bore (read: power, weight and definition). 100% Cabernet works – the right climatic conditions prevailing, in the right vineyards, in the right soils – for the right Cabernet Sauvignon blend in 2010 – Bin 407, no less.
Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

Officially The Bin Series was born in 1959. But in truth the first Bin wine was created in 1951 by the now legendary chief winemaker, Max Schubert. Back then the experimental wine was simply known as Bin 1, referring to its storage location in Penfolds cellars while ageing. 1952 was Bin 4. Later vintages carried various designations as Max continued to refine what was to eventually become the most lauded wine in Australian history. By 1964 the designation was standardised as ‘Bin 95’. Grange, as it’s more famously known, now holds a place so exalted in the pantheon of wine that in 2001, it became a national heritage icon. Grange was of such rare importance and so influential that it became the first in a long and illustrious ‘bloodline’, defining a Penfolds style and philosophy that inspired a dynasty of wines, with an unmistakable resemblance and relationship to each other. It is this pedigree and lineage that lives on in the Bin range and makes it such a celebrated family of wines.

In Scottish, 'The Laird' refers to the Lord of the Manor. A rare bottling only produced when conditions are right. This single vineyard Shiraz comes from the very old Gnadenfrei vineyard in the sub-region of Marananga in the Barossa Valley (now solely owned by Torbreck), considered to be among the finest vineyards in all of the Barossa. The first vintage was 2005 and 2010 represents only the 4th vintage produced to date. 2010 was an epic year in the Barossa and this is surely destined to be an icon.

A few hours coaxing from the glass reveals a smorgasbord of aromas, dark chocolate covered plums, crème de cassis. This rich exotic element balanced with notes of undergrowth, anise and hints of Lapsang Souchong. Bold and unashamedly mouth coating flowing onto a fine mid palate with bags of energy and precision from the outstandingly balanced acidity. An almost menthol like element flowing onto the persistent length. Opulent and harmonious all in one. A beauty now but give it 5 years to meld and soften and enjoy to 2035+.
Ben Upjohn, Fine Wine Sales Manager
According to Robert Parker, “Torbreck remains a Barossa Valley benchmark, as well as one of the world’s greatest wine estates.” The wines of Torbreck have a very strong Berry Bros. & Rudd staff following. We whole heartedly agree with Robert Parker (above) and Neal Martin when he says “….this is one of my favourite Australian wines, big and bold like many others, but each wine imbued with its own individuality.”

Torbreck is one of the most iconic estates in Australia and they craft a large yet quality-driven portfolio ranging from the deliciously dry Steading blanc and juicy Cotes du Rhone styled “Cuvee Juveniles” to the vinous colossi that are “RunRig” and “The Laird”. Balance is the key to these wines. This is a quality that often eludes the wines from hotter regions such as the Barossa Valley. With only good soil and middle age vines it is easy to make blockbuster reds in the Barossa; what is very difficult is to make wines with power combined with balance, lift and purity that comes with the very best old vines. It is this balance of power and purity that is the hallmark of Torbreck wines and, quite simply, this is why we like them so much. All the wines are impressive, and the estate deserves all the praise it gets.

2010 was an outstanding vintage in Coonawarra, the vines enjoyed early and even ripening with moderate yields delivering an outstanding quality of fruit.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon has pronounced black currant, black cherry and cedar notes with nuances of lightly browned toast, roses, game and rosemary. Medium-bodied, the palate is already a joy to drink, though this wine is showing only a fraction of its potential. Elegantly fruited and tightly wound, it has a firm level of fine-grained tannins and a refreshing acid backbone. It finishes with laudable persistence.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate #205- February 2013

First made in 1982, The John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon was conceived as the flagship wine for the Wynn’s estate. The Cabernet sauvignon grape was seen to be most at one with the Coonawarra Terra Rosa soil. John Riddoch named after the pastoralist and parliamentarian is often seen by many as the definitive Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, produced in small quantities and only when the vintage and fruit is of a high enough standard.

Deep garnet-purple in color and sporting a very forward and expressive, creme de cassis-led nose with hints of dried mint, dark chocolate and cigar boxes plus a whiff of dried herbs following, the full-bodied 2010 Cellar Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, concentrated and classic Barossa Cabernet style shaped by medium to firm, grainy tannins and crisp acid. It finishes very long.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - eRobertParker.com #211 Feb 2014

Officially launched in 2000 with the 1997 vintage, RWT is the perfect foil for Grange. A single-region Barossa Valley Shiraz matured only in French oak. Made from fruit primarily selected for its aromatic qualities and fine texture rather than sheer intensity or power of flavour. Its style is opulent and fleshy, contrasting with Grange, which is more muscular.

The expression of Shiraz from a single vineyard, the original Magill vineyard to the East of Adelaide, with the fruit crushed, fermented and matured on-site at the original Penfolds Magill winery, established in 1844. An elegant, medium-weight style with velvety texture and fine tannins, matured in both French and American oak.

There is a dark, rich, very Australian feel to this, the fruit is pure and supple with refined tannins which keep the wine in very good balance. This is hugely enjoyable and wine that begs to be drunk from a large format with good friends.
Gary Owen, Private Account Manager

The Struie is a blend of 44 year old Eden Valley Shiraz vines and 80 year old Barossa Shiraz, the former giving lift and acidity, the latter richness and weight.

Subtle, beguiling blackberry fruit on the bouquet. Very dark, dense and spicy, classy fruit on the palate, quite savoury with saline notes on the long, fine finish. Very good balance over-all with well-judged acidity and ripe tannins. This is definitely one to put away for a few years to enjoy it at its best.
Chris Pollington, Fine Wine Manager

RunRig has often drawn comparison with the beautifully fragrant & tautly structured wines produced from the steep slopes of the Northern Rhône Valley’s Appellation of Côte Rôtie.  A beautiful and flawless blend of 97.5% Shiraz and 2.5% Viognier.
 
A brooding darkness of morello cherry, blackberry fruits, spiced apricots and olive tapenade on the nose gives a hint at the serious beast of a wine we are about to encounter.  The palate is powerful with a huge mid palate of taught tannins and acidity, perfectly matched by a rich core of fruit, dark chocolate and espresso.  A beguiling, multi-faceted wine. One for the long haul, drink 2018 – 2030.
Stuart Rae, Fine Wine Manager
 
For me, the finest wine of Torbreck and one of the most impressive New World wines you could ever hope to taste. There’s a dash of Viognier here to enliven and lift the aromatics, but it’s the old vine Shiraz driven rich, black fruit characters, chocolate, liquorice and spice notes which set the tone. Layer after layer, this is super charged but somehow a sense of precision and finesse remains. The real joy of the great Torbreck wines is the marriage of texture and big dark flavours with a refinement, balance and poise rarely seen in the Barossa.
Martyn Rolph, Fine Wine Manager

Ben Glaetzer carries on a family tradition of winemaking in the Barossa Valley which began in 1888. His father Colin created the current winery and Ben has now assumed control. The aim is to craft wines of great intensity and definition from plots of very old vines, aged from 50-130 years old. The 2010 climate made for wines of excellent concentration; rains were ample and came at the right time, after 7 years of near-drought, and the key summer months proved hot in the day but cool in the evening, especially in March as the harvest neared. This preserved vital acidity in the grapes, creating the balance which marks out the fine from the merely very good.

Yields here are very low, further enhancing the concentration and intensity in the wine. The wine is aged for 16 months in 100% new oak, of which 95% is French and 5% American.

The bouquet exhibits blackberry and dark plum aromas, laced with a hint of pepper, while on the palate there is a lush richness which embraces more black fruits, coffee and dark chocolate. There is a wonderful purity and freshness allied to the density mentioned above, and the length on the finish is quite extraordinary. A wine which can be drunk now but which will age comfortably for at least a decade or more.

The Cabernet Sauvignon reflection of Grange.  A blend of fruit from five vineyard sites, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, and Adelaide Hills. A truly outstanding vintage that takes Bin 707 to a new level, with winemaker Peter Gago describing the wine ‘Gloss and sheen (‘sparkle’), yet with depth and structure’.

Medium garnet in color, the 2010 Shiraz Hill of Grace reveals a slightly reticent yet beguiling nose of kirsch, dried mulberries and plum preserves with nuances of star anise, potpourri, cloves, dusty earth and menthol. Medium to full-bodied with youthfully taut, mouth-filling perfumed berry preserves and exotic spice flavors, the fruit is well framed by rounded, polished tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with incredible length. It could still benefit from 2-4 years in bottle before entering its drinking window but is already stunning.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Jun 2015

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 The Armagh Shiraz flaunts a gorgeous aromatic red and black fruit core intermingled with clove, chocolate box, and eucalyptus aromas that are still very primary. Bottled under screw cap, it has a really fine palate that is very elegant yet powerful. With vibrant acid, firm and very fine tannins, the flavors are rich and layered with spices coming through on the long finish. Drink it from 2015 to 2030+. 
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Nov 2015

Produced in tiny quantities from only the very best Chardonnay fruit from the finest vineyards of cool-climate regions.  In 2010 fruit was selected from Tasmania and the Adelaide Hills. With a delicate touch to the winemaking. The 2010 was aged for eight months in new and older in French oak, in almost equal proportions.