2024 Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz 750ml

About This Wine

This wine reflects the up and coming Shiraz vineyards of the Barossa, rather than the battle hardened old vines that make up the core of Torbreck’s other cuvées. Fruit is sourced from hand-harvested and hand-tended, low-yielding vines, then open fermented and gently basket pressed before ageing on fine lees for 12 months in large format seasoned barrels and foudres.

The lead up to the 2024 harvest saw timely spring rainfall and calm conditions for flowering and fruit set. A mild to warm summer was idyllic, propelling even growth and fruit development. A warm early summer brought on Shiraz showing bright colours and fragrance, accelerating to powerful dark fruit and fragrantly spiced characteristics. A cooler break mid-April allowed fruit to develop deep colours and firm tannins. Harvest concluded on 19 April 2024.

Tasting Notes

Crimson with black cherry core. An alluring nose of dried red currant, black cherry and red plum, with secondary notes of Chinese five spice, charcuterie and white pepper. Soft and enveloping, with silky tannins providing a warm and supple mouthfeel offering excellent length and depth. Enjoy from release or cellar for 5–10 years. Serve at 16°C/64°F and match with most cuisines.

About the Winery

Torbreck is a leading wine producer in the Barossa Valley region of Australia, specializing in Shiraz. It is known for its powerful and aromatic flagship RunRig Shiraz (from 120–160-year-old vines with a dash of Viognier) and The Laird, a single-vineyard Shiraz that is one of the most expensive wines made in Australia.

The estate produces around 15 wines based on Rhône varieties including Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. Torbreck was founded in 1994 by David Powell with grapes obtained on a sharecropping basis. The name comes from a forest in Scotland where he once worked as a lumberjack, and many wines also carry Scottish-themed names.

The estate has developed its own vineyard holdings but continues to source much of its fruit from selected growers throughout the Barossa Valley. Strong early ratings from The Wine Advocate brought international attention, including consistent annual scores of 95–99 points for RunRig and multiple 100-point vintages of The Laird. The chief winemaker is Ian Hongell.

Specifications

• Vintage: 2024
• Grape Variety: 100% Shiraz
• Region: Barossa Valley / South Australia / Australia
• Vineyard / Geo info: Marananga, Greenock, Seppeltsfield, Gomersal, Moppa, Lyndoch, Ebenezer
• Fermentation: Open fermented and basket pressed
• Maturation: 12 months in well-seasoned French oak hogsheads and Foudre
• Production Attributes: Hand-harvested and hand-tended
• Alcohol: 15%
• Acidity TA: 6.00 g/L
• Acidity pH: 3.60
• Winemaker: Ian Hongell
• Drinking Window: 2024–2034