Torbreck The Steading 2021

Torbreck The Steading 2021

 

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Torbreck
The Steading 2021
  • Vintage : 2021
  • Country : Australia
  • Region : Barossa Valley
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Rich and Spicy
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 15°
  • Grappes : 51% Grenache, 28% Syrah, 21% Mataro

Torbreck The Steading is a benchmark Barossa Valley blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro, offering a symphony of ripe red fruits, savory spice, and earthy complexity.

Experts Score Vintage
RP Robert Parker 95 2021
JS James Suckling 94 2021
WS Wine Spectator 92 2020
WE Wine Enthusiast 92 2020
DCT Decanter 94 2019
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 93 2018
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

The Steading is sourced from some of the Barossa Valley’s most treasured old vines, located in sub-regions such as Gomersal, Lyndoch, Greenock, Moppa, Marananga, Seppeltsfield, and Ebenezer. These vines, ranging in age from 40 to 150 years, are deeply rooted in mineral-rich soils, contributing to the wine’s depth and complexity. The resilience of these historic plantings, which survived the global phylloxera outbreak and Barossa’s vine-pull scheme of the 1980s, is central to Torbreck’s story.

The 2021 growing season was defined by a mild summer with even temperatures and a long ripening period. Winter and spring rains in 2020 replenished the soils, promoting healthy vine growth and well-formed grape clusters. These conditions allowed for an extended flavor development, resulting in wines with lifted aromatics, vibrant colors, and exceptional balance.

Winemaking

Torbreck The Steading is composed of 51% Grenache, 28% Shiraz, and 21% Mataro, each contributing unique characteristics to the blend. The grapes were harvested between March 5th and April 18th, ensuring optimal ripeness. Fermentation was followed by 20 months of maturation in large 4,500-liter French oak foudre vats. This extended time on fine lees allowed natural malolactic fermentation to occur, enhancing texture and complexity.

Grenache provides bright red fruit and spice, Shiraz adds structure and richness, and Mataro contributes earthy and savory depth. The resulting wine is a harmonious expression of Barossa’s old vine resource, combining plush fruit flavors with refined tannins and a touch of minerality.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Deep crimson with a garnet rim.
  • Aroma: A vibrant bouquet of cranberry, pomegranate, red cherry, and red plum, complemented by secondary notes of clove, star anise, bay leaf, and wild thyme.
  • Palate: Medium to full-bodied with a dense core of plush red fruit flavors, framed by firm tannins and savory complexity. A long, elegant finish underscores its balance and structure.
  • Finish: Persistent and layered, with vibrant acidity lifting the wine’s flavors.

Did You Know?

The name The Steading refers to a collection of barns and stables on a traditional Scottish farm. In the Barossa Valley, it symbolizes the blending of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro into a wine that honors the strength and legacy of the region’s old vines.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Roast Duck with Plum Sauce: Complements the wine’s plush fruit and savory nuances.
  • Herb-Crusted Lamb Chops: Enhances the wine’s earthy and spicy aromas.
  • Mushroom Risotto: The wine’s savory complexity aligns beautifully with the creamy, umami flavors.
  • Charcuterie and Aged Cheeses: Highlights the wine’s balance of fruit, spice, and acidity.

History of Torbreck Estate

Torbreck Vintners was founded in 1994 by David Powell, a former lumberjack, who discovered neglected old-vine Shiraz vineyards in the Barossa Valley. Inspired to create a winery, Powell began by share-farming, a system where he managed the vineyards in exchange for a share of the grape yield. This allowed him to source high-quality fruit from some of the oldest and most prestigious vineyards in the region.

Torbreck's first wine, RunRig, was produced in 1995 from just three tonnes of Shiraz and Viognier grapes. The winery quickly gained international acclaim, particularly following a highly favorable review in The Wine Advocate​​​​.

In 2008, Torbreck completed a state-of-the-art winery and bottling facility, which allowed for complete control over the vinification process.

The estate changed ownership in 2013 when David Powell left, and Peter Kight, the current owner, continues to uphold the winery's high standards​​.

Region and Vineyards

Torbreck is situated in the Barossa Valley, a region renowned for its warm Mediterranean climate and diverse soil types, ideal for producing robust and complex red wines. The Barossa Valley, protected by the Mount Lofty Ranges, is known for its hot, sunny days and cooler nights, which are perfect for growing Shiraz. The valley's soils range from clay to sandy loam and red-brown earth, contributing to the complexity and intensity of the wines produced.

The estate also sources grapes from the Eden Valley, a cooler region with higher altitudes, contributing to the aromatic and structured nature of some of its wines. Eden Valley is known for its well-drained granite and sandy loam soils, producing Shiraz that is more elegant and has a characteristic minerality.

These regions allow Torbreck to create wines with a balance of elegance and intensity​.

Wine Range

Torbreck offers a diverse range of wines, focusing primarily on Rhone varieties such as Shiraz, Grenache, and Mataro. Their flagship wines include:

  • The Laird: A single-vineyard Shiraz, one of the most expensive wines in Australia, known for its power and complexity.
  • RunRig: A blend of Shiraz and Viognier, often compared to the wines of Côte Rôtie, known for its rich, aromatic profile.
  • Descendant: A Shiraz/Viognier blend sourced from vines planted with cuttings from the RunRig vineyards.
  • The Factor: Made from old-vine Shiraz, aged in French oak, known for its deep, brooding character.
  • The Steading: A blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro, inspired by Châteauneuf-du-Pape​​​​.

Did you know?

Torbreck’s name is derived from a forest near Inverness, Scotland, reflecting founder David Powell’s heritage. This influence extends to the naming of their wines, such as The Laird and The Steading, which pay homage to Scottish traditions and landscapes​​​​.

Robert Parker (RP) : 95 Points (2021)
The 2021 The Steading is incredibly sweet on the nose: summer raspberries, blood plums, black cherry, licorice, star anise, some cardamom and chewing tobacco. This offers insane value for money, at around $40AUD, but then, I feel like it has been that price for at least a decade, so it has been an insane value for a long time. This is reliable, delicious, complex, plush/generous and, through the lens of this lovely cool vintage, a superstar. The best yet.

James Suckling (JS) : 94 Points (2021)
I like the tannin tension to this with berry, dried meat and spice aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied with a firmness and brightness. Juicy finish. Nice texture at the end. Vivid. Grenache, shiraz and mataro.

Wine Spectator (WS) : 92 Points (2020)
Dense and succulent, showing bittersweet chocolate, plum, huckleberry, wild raspberry and black pepper, with a hint of plumeria providing a fragrant note on the long, generous finish. Reveals plump tannins, which have some traction on the finish. Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro. Drink now.

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 92 Points (2020)
A supple, sturdy wine with balance and finesse, Steading opens with rich aromas of chocolate and plum underpinned by licorice, savory spice and warm tarmac. The plush palate is silky textured with fine, well-integrated tannins and length. There’s a lovely play between tangy fruit and savory spice. Drink now

Decanter (DCT) : 94 Points (2019)
Ripe but sinewy tannins mesh beautifully with dark berry and black olive on the chamois-smooth palate. There's smoked meat, ink, lavender and Turkish Delight riffs, with iron filing minerality to the lengthy finish. Sourced from 40- to 150-year-old vines from Gomersal, Lyndoch, Greenock, Moppa, Marananga, Seppeltsfield and Ebenezer, this polished 60% Grenache blended with Shiraz and Mataro is aged in 4,500-litre French oak foudres.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 93 Points (2018)
Opaque ruby. Lush, dark berry and fruitcake scents are complemented by suggestions of candied flowers and backing spices. Sappy and focused on entry and then fleshier in the mid-palate, offering ripe blackberry, cherry and allspice flavors and a hint of cola. Closes very long and smooth, with slowly building tannins lending gentle grip.

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WS
94
RP
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WE
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WS
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RP
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RP
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JS
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JH
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JS
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