Torbeck Wines

Reviews

  • The Wine Companion
  • Stephen Tanzer
  • The Wine Advocate
  • Wine Specator Online
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The Steading - Steven Tanzer (IWC)

2007 (60% grenache with 20% each of mataro and shiraz) Medium red. Raspberry preserves and plum on the nose. Lush and creamy, with a decadent quality to the sweet red fruit fl avors.  Bitter chocolate and black tea notes add grip and structure to the powerful, liqueur-like fruit on the long, sappy, eductively sweet fi nish.  Really clings to the palate. This is delicious now: I can barely find any tannins.
2006 60% Grenache and 20% each of Mataro and Shiraz. Deep, bright red. Wide-open on the nose, offering seductive raspberry, candied cherry, floral and Asian spice aromas, along with a subtle smoky undertone. Fleshy and sweet on the palate, offering vivid red and dark berry flavors and an exotic sweet tobacco quality. Candied floral notes build through the long, sweet finish, where fine-grained tannins make a late appearance. Already quite seductive. 92
2004 Ruby-red. Red berry and cherry aromas, with a good dose of vanilla accentuating the sweetness of the nose. Lush and expansive, with ripe raspberry and cherry jam flavors underscored by gentle minerality. Finishes on a creamy red berry note, with excellent length. 90
2003 Medium ruby. Pungent, floral nose features bright raspberry, wild strawberry, fennel, smoky bacon and fruity pepper. Sweet and juicy, with concentrated flavors of ripe cherry, blackberry, olive tapenade and mocha. The dark, plummy finish offers impressive energy. 90
2001 Medium, lightly browning, unpolished red. Earthy, meaty and evolved on the nose; the aromas of red berries, cherry, and floral, grenache-derived boiled blueberry confection are slightly dirty. Spicy and smooth in the middle palate, then gritty and distinctly hot on the finish. A briary, short-term wine that's already at the height of its complexity. 85
2000 Deep, dark ruby with a very faint haze. Assertively complex and rustic, scented with earthy, stony rose garden aromas, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and measured chocolatey oak. Silky, supple and stylish, with a firmness to its long and savory palate. Piercing red berry flavors are nicely neatly countered by earthy, leathery qualities. One of Australia leading Rhone pretenders and a real departure from the Barossa stereotype. 89
1999

Bright, saturated ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, black pepper and lead pencil. Juicy, oaky and intensely flavored; still a bit closed and dry in the middle, with rather firm acidity. Currently hiding its personality and texture. Perhaps best today on the brisk, persistent finish.

 89
1998

Full red-ruby. Liqueur-like aromas of red cherry, cassis, violet and mint. Fleshy, suave and sweet; an attractive, fruit-driven wine with firm acids, smooth tannins and very good length. Finishes with a hint of roasted nuts.

 89
1997

Good deep red-ruby. Superripe aromas of raspberry, cherry, black pepper and woodsmoke. Very concentrated, fresh and delineated; a firmly shaped wine with lovely balance and restraint. Finishes spicy, peppery and quite long. Wears its 14.5% alcohol gracefully.

 90