Torbreck Descendant 2018 (750ML)

98 WA / 97 DE / 96 JS

What a lush, charming, wonderfully drinkable wine. The 2018 Descendant, made by fermenting Shiraz on Viognier skins, is a terrific effort, starting from its intriguing spicy, peppery aromas. Those notes are seamlessly intertwined with impressively ripe fruit scents evocative of blueberries and cherries, while the full-bodied palate is plush, creamy and supple without being unstructured or overblown. Softly dusty tannins ground the finish, lending a sense of savory balance to this beauty. Descendent is one of my favorite Torbreck bottlings year after year, and this may be the best one yet.—Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate

Heritage cuttings (and second-fill barriques) from Runrig lend pedigree to this single-vineyard co-fermented Shiraz and Viognier (8%) from Marananga. Younger vines (planted 1994) give flamboyant notes of soaring violets, luscious summer pudding fruit, cedar, anise, black pepper, stem ginger, apricot glaze and iron minerality. Silky milk chocolate texture, feathery tannins and cleansing acidity brings terrific finesse to the elegant finish. Bravo!—Sarah Ahmed, Decanter

Shiraz co-fermented with 8% viognier, this has aromas of spiced blackberries and dark plums with chocolate notes, too. The palate has a round, silky feel with a mouthful of spicy dark-plum flavors, wrapped around long, even tannins. Impressive now, but even better in five years.—James Suckling