You know it's early August when Torbreck greets the tasting table - in fact, tomorrow will mark a year to the very day these Barossa legends last swept through! Always one of the year's most popular, we've done something a little cool this year, and will be showing off a few of their older back-vintage reds alongside some of their latest efforts. Of particular note (and absolutely singing after their years spent in the cellar) is the Steading GSM from 2018, the Factor from 2016, and a 100-point Runrig from 2016! Greg McGill - Queensland ambassador for the estate and something of a legend in the industry - will be in to host once again. Join him this Saturday (9th), though please note it won't be at our regular time, but 1 and 3pm just this time around!
For something light-hearted tomorrow (Friday 8th) evening, we've decided to pop open six different varietal expressions that we consider to be excellent value! Covered will be Riesling coming from Sons of Eden, Petit Chablis from Jean Collet, Grenache from McLaren Vale's Thistledown, Shiraz from Barr-Eden in Eden Valley, a recent Best Pinot Noir (and best overall Red) of Show winner at the Royal Queensland Awards 2025 from Bream Creek, and a cellar-aged Semillon from Mount Pleasant! Join one of our faves Shane Porter, as he stands guard from 4 to 7pm
Top Value Tasting -
Friday 8th August (4 to 7pm)
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Sons of Eden Freya Riesling - $21 on special; $24 RRP
Jean Collet Petit Chablis 2023 - $43 on special; $49 RRP
Thistledown Gorgeous Grenache 2023 - $23 on special; $26 RRP
Barr-Eden 'Dreams of Gold' Shiraz 2023 - $28 on special; $32 RRP
Bream Creek Pinot Noir 2024 - $39 on special; $44 RRP
+ pouring a 2018 back-vintage Mount Pleasant Semillon!
(Availability & price TBC)
Torbreck - Favourites Old & New
Specials & Tasting
Saturday 9th August (1 to 3pm)
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Woodcutters Semillon 2024 -
$22 on special this week; $25 RRP
"The 2024 Woodcutter's Semillon is from a spectacular year in South Australia. It was warm and dry and everything good—"Goldilocks," in the words of winemaker Ian Hongell. On the back of the wet 2023 season, the soils were charged with moisture, and the growing year proceeded with calm and health. Everyone I met with so far, from both Barossa and McLaren Vale, has stars in their eyes about this vintage." - 94 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Woodcutters Rosé 2024 -
$22 on special this week; $25 RRP
"The 2024 Woodcutter's Rosé is 100% Mataro, and the wine conveys earthy richness and density endemic to the variety. This is ripe and full, with flowers and red fruit on the nose and an array of brick dust, sandalwood, hung deli meat and crushed rocks through the finish. The wine was matured in a combination of stainless steel (70%) and old oak for three months. Strawberry, mulberry and blood plum complete the fruit profile." - 92 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Hillside Vineyard Shiraz/Roussanne 2023 -
$28 on special this week; $32 RRP
"The 2023 Hillside Vineyard Shiraz Roussanne contains 7% Roussanne, and it performs in a similar way to Viognier, in that it retains vivid color, contributes floral perfume and creates a streamlined effect with the tannins. The wine is almost gravelly in its chewiness, yet this feels very much "vineyard-derived," which I view to be most positive. The alcohol feels an active participant in this wine, yet it doesn't impact the freshness of the fruit in any way; and given the almost lack of oak flavor (seasoned in 4,500-liter French oak foudres), this seems to be a fine character to absorb while tasting. It's a lovely wine. I like the authenticity of it." - 93 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The Steading GSM 2018 -
$49 on special this week; $55 RRP
"Deep red/purple colour. The bouquet is likewise bright, fresh, clean and attractive, loaded with blackberry flavours and intense palate flavour, medium to full-bodied and with a nice touch firmness to the tannin grip. This has real depth of flavour, richness, and plenty of oomph. Fruitsweet core is typical of the vintage." - 94 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
The Struie Shiraz 2023 -
$49 on special this week; $55 RRP
"The 2023 Struie is a blend from Eden and Barossa, melding the higher altitude austerity and structure of Eden with the density and muscle of the Barossa. I like this wine, because if you sit with it for long enough, you can clearly see the component parts side by side. The whole makes the understanding of the parts. You get the blueberry, black cherry, licorice, crushed quartz, aniseed and dark chocolate of Eden married to the bloody, earthy, gritty muscle of Barossa. Awesome." - 95 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The Gask Shiraz 2023 -
$75 on special this week; $85 RRP
"The 2023 Gask is a single-vineyard wine from Eden Valley, and it is a powerhouse of concentration, density and purple persistence. This wine is intimidating in its power, but it also inspires something like awe in the fact that the wine was grown like this; the fruit naturally produces the concentration and power that we see here in the glass, and it speaks of the Eden so clearly in its expression." - 95 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The Factor Shiraz 2022 -
$130 on special this week; $149 RRP
"The 2022 Factor is a celebration of old-vine vineyards in Barossa. Aromatically, this philosophy is clear as day in the wine. Barossa is stylistically adaptable and flexible, and at its best, it's able to convey a sense of meatiness, charred bacon fat, alongside kicked red earth and brick dust, an array of exotic spices and purple fruit, all the while conveying balance and focus. These are the best examples of its capability. All of these things are evident in this wine, and it shows concentration and length in spades. It's a big, powerful wine but balanced too. Excellent." - 96 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The Factor Shiraz 2016 -
$155 on special this week; $175 RRP
"Torbreck's 2016 The Factor incorporates what winemaker Ian Hongell calls their "most structured Shiraz, from a lot of ironstone soils." It spends two years in French oak barriques, half of which were new, so it shows hints of cedar pencil shavings and toasted coconut layered over ripe blackberries and spice. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it finishes long, with terrific energy and drive. It should prove to be one of the longest-lived wines from this lineup." - 97 Points, Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
RunRig Shiraz 2016 -
$355 on special this week; $395 RRP
// 98% Shiraz & 2% Viognier
"A blend of 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier made just prior to bottling, the 2016 RunRig is a complete masterpiece. It kicks off with elegant notes of pencil shavings accenting blueberries and blackberries on the nose, then shows incredible, palate-staining intensity of fruit in the mouth. It's full-bodied, plush and velvety without being unstructured and manages to be fruit-forward yet savory on the long-lasting finish, where it picks up hints of mocha and black olives. This should be drinkable with pleasure throughout its entire two-decade life (it may live longer from cold cellars or in larger formats), but if I were lucky enough to have a bottle or two, I'd try the first one about 10 years out." - 100 Points, Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Also Available from Torbreck -
Hillside Shiraz Roussanne 2022 MAGNUM -
Available for $69!
The Struie 2023 MAGNUM -
Available for $120!
The Descendant Shiraz 2017 -
On special for $157 ($175 RRP)
Runrig Shiraz 2009 -
On special for $355 ($395 RRP)
If you wish to buy any of these wines, please use the links above
Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions.
// Prices valid until Thursday the 14th of August