The Wine Companion
Steven Tanzer
The Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator Online
Media Reviews (Global)
Runrig - The Wine Companion (James Halliday)
2009
This is larger than life, super concentrated, black-fruited, dark and essency shiraz, befitting of maker David Powell; whilst the concentration is staggering, the underlying tannins and freshness provides length, complexity and interest. Make no mistake this is big end of town, take no prisoners old vine shiraz pushed to the limit.
Drink
by 2025.
2007
Strong colour, albeit with some development; an extremely complex bouquet, with black fruits, leather, tar and cedar dominant, the full-bodied palate adding fruitcake and mocha; the tannins are in balance, which is a blessing.
Drink 2022
$225
Date Tasted
Aug 10
2006
A very fragrant bouquet attests to the influence of viognier, which also may be part of the reason why the palate does not show the high alcohol, and is simply supple and velvety, even showing a hint of spice. Shiraz. Cork. 15.5% alc.
Drink 2021
$225
Date Tasted
Feb 09
2005
Has all the expected vibrancy and complexity of flavour in this wine; rounded and velvety fruit sweetness (not residual sugar) backed by ripe tannins and just the right amount of oak. 14.5% alc.
Drink:
2018 |
Date Tasted:
Mar 08
2004
A fragrant and complex bouquet; shiraz, viognier and oak all coalesce in a rich, velvety, mouthfilling and sensuous wine; oak is somewhere in the background. I do wish the Woodcutters had a cork and RunRig the screwcap. 14.5% alc.
Drink:
2019 |
Date Tasted:
Jun 07
2003
Deep colour and hue; highly fragrant, spiced blackberry aromas; the intensity of flavour hits the mouth like a gale, the inbuilt tannins neither hard nor dry. Controlled oak. The '04 should be celestial. 14.5% alc.
Drink:
2023 |
Date Tasted:
Feb 06
2002
Medium-bodied; fragrant, elegant style with lifted aromatics and a finely drawn, structured and balanced palate; smoky blackberry fruit with just a hint of apricot; fine, long tannins. High quality cork.
Drink:
2015 |
Date Tasted:
Mar 05
2001
Rich, layered and complex black fruits, spice and licorice; excellent texture and structure.
Drink:
2016 |
Date Tasted:
Feb 04
1999
Full red-purple; a fruit-driven bouquet with a complex array of rich dark berry, plum and spice aromas, then a super-saturated and concentrated palate exuding fruit, sdivice and soft tannins. One can only imagine that part of the concentration derives from juice run-off.
Drink:
2020 |
Date Tasted:
Dec 01
1998
Dense red-purple; a clean and rich bouquet oozes blackberry, black cherry fruit and spice, fore shadowing a massively concentrated and quite tannic palate, laden with black fruits. Leave for 10 years at least, and rated in part as an article of faith.
Drink:
2018 |
Date Tasted:
Jan 01
1997
Dense red-purple; a powerful wine with black fruits and abundant oak on the bouquet. The concentrated and youthful palate has an array of dark cherry, redcurrant and minty fruit flavours; these flavours and the oak are still coming together.
Drink:
2017 |
Date Tasted:
Jun 00
1996
Excellent, deep red-purple. There is voluminous rich, concentrated and lusciously ripe, chocolate-accented fruit on both bouquet and palate. The latter is crammed with luscious fruit and oak, and will certainly repay those who lock the wine away for ten years or more.
Drink:
2016 |
Date Tasted:
Dec 98
1995
Medium to full red-purple; the bouquet is rich and dense, with chocolate, berry and earth fruit aromas surrounded by charry, vanillin oak. The palate is multi-flavoured with ripe fruit exhibiting gamey, minty and berry characters; fine tannin structure.
Drink:
2005 |
Date Tasted:
Jan 98