All Red Wines
Welcome to our collection of exquisite red wines from around the world. Indulge in a sensory journey that takes you through the diverse terroirs and distinctive flavors crafted by renowned winemakers. From bold and robust to elegant and refined, our selection offers a delightful array of red wines to satisfy every palate.
Each bottle we offer is a testament to the artistry and passion of winemaking. Our team of experts has meticulously curated this collection to bring you the finest red wines from renowned vineyards across the globe. Whether you're a seasoned wine connoisseur or an enthusiastic beginner, we have something to captivate your taste buds and elevate your wine experience.
Explore the deep, velvety reds from the rolling vineyards of Bordeaux, where centuries of winemaking tradition have shaped some of the most sought-after blends in the world. Indulge in the rich, full-bodied flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, crafted with meticulous care and precision.
Venture to the sun-soaked hills of Tuscany, where the Sangiovese grape thrives, giving birth to the enchanting Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino wines. Savor the harmonious balance of fruit and earth, a true reflection of Italy's winemaking heritage.
Cross the ocean to the New World, where the vineyards of California, Australia, and South America produce bold and fruit-forward red wines that have garnered international acclaim. Discover the opulence of Napa Valley's Cabernet Sauvignon, the elegance of Australia's Shiraz, or the intensity of Argentina's Malbec.
Uncover the hidden gems of lesser-known wine regions, where passionate winemakers are creating remarkable red wines that surprise and delight. From the hills of Lebanon to the valleys of South Africa, each bottle tells a unique story and offers a taste of the terroir from which it originates.
At Cru, we believe that wine is an invitation to explore the world and its diverse flavors. Our collection of red wines represents a global celebration of craftsmanship, tradition, and the unending pursuit of excellence. Indulge in the remarkable tapestry of flavors, aromas, and textures that red wines offer, and let us guide you on a remarkable journey through the world of wine.
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All Red Wines
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Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Corton Grand Cru, which comes from Les Combes as usual (though not on the label), has a lovely nose with brambly red fruit, black truffle and subtle pencil box aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, very fine tension and an almost sorbet-fresh, quite mouth-coating finish. It will require time in bottle...but this Corton will be worth the wait.Inc. VAT£555.89 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-93)
Rich purple, perhaps not quite so dense. Ripe strawberry with some floral rose notes in a concentrated register, then an explosion of blackcurrant, blackberry and some fresher red berry notes as well on the palate, soft and liquid, though the alcohol is showing, at 15%. Tasted: October 2021Inc. VAT£647.60 -
Vinous (87-89)
The 2018 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Lavières 1er Cru has a perfumed nose, perhaps just missing a little definition due to the warmth of the growing season. The balanced palate offers sweet black cherries and raspberry fruit. Quite spicy on the midpalate, although it does not quite deliver the complexity of the 2016 or 2017 toward the finish. A Savigny more for early drinking.Inc. VAT£267.89 -
(6x75cl) 2021Vinous (88-90)
The 2021 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Lavières 1er Cru has an attractive nose with light cranberry, raspberry and briary scents. There's a fine definition, if not huge intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a crisp line of acidity and a gentle grip toward the citrus-fresh finish. This works better than the Chorey-lès-Beaune.Inc. VAT£479.09 -
The Real Review (97)
Deep red-purple, bright and clear colour; superb rich ripe black cherry fragrance with a kiss of smoky oak, the palate remarkably full and rich, smooth and fleshy with excellent texture and immediate drinking appeal, although it has the legs to age well too. Serious structure, but also succulent, sweet and plush—almost too much of a good thing. Outstanding pinot noir.Inc. VAT£377.52 -
Inc. VAT£543.20 -
International Wine Report (100)
The 2019 Vine Hill Ranch 'Pure Magic' certainly lives up to its name, and it is even more impressive since my last tasting from barrel in April. This possesses such incredible pure characteristics and it is nothing short of magical, living up to its name. It instantly begins to impress as it bursts open to seductive aromas of ripe dark currants, black cherries and even hints of blueberries, which are woven together with exotic spices, violets, herbs, tilled-soil and a touch of licorice that all come together and explode from the glass. On the palate this continues to impress with its plush full-bodied texture that is dense and concentrated. It goes on to display a remarkable sense of freshness and striking overall balance, as layers of beautifully ripe dark fruits cascade on to the long supple finish. The VHR ‘Pure Magic’ is a simply brilliant wine and while it is nothing short of perfection today, it also shows tremendous promise for a tremendous future ahead.Inc. VAT£1,391.20 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
This comes from the most gravelly block in Vine Hill Ranch, Block 7, planted to twenty-year-old vines. The wine sees "classic TOR winemaking" - about three weeks on skins during and post-fermentation. It was matured in a mix of Taransaud and Darnajou small French oak barrels for twenty months, then bottled without fining or filtration. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant black cherries, mulberries and boysenberries notes plus suggestions of pencil shavings, cigar box and cardamom. Medium to full bodied, the palate has an exhilarating, fantastically fine-grained texture, with seamless freshness and bags of black fruit flavors, finishing with a lively herbal lift. 202 cases were made.Inc. VAT£1,168.40 -
Wine Advocate (95)
No RunRig was made in 2000. The 2001 RunRig features six single vineyards, an increase from the two or three that went into the RunRig wines from the 1990s. The nose is more restrained than the previous wines, and the palate is as well, with an undeniable power that surges through the finish. This is tightly wound and closed for the most part, with length that continues long after the wine is gone. This bodes well for its future. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.Inc. VAT£401.59 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
The 2015 RunRig is dark and brooding, with tar and resin, asphalt and tapenade. In the mouth, the fruit is sweet, feathered by vanilla pod and medjool date, mulberry, blood plum and sweet licorice. The length is phenomenally long, and the future will be just as long. The wine is so closed at this stage, and yet it has all the hallmarks required for long aging. 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.Inc. VAT£977.60 -
Vinous (96)
Inky ruby color. Expansive aromas of dark fruit liqueur, incense, candied flowers, Indian spices and vanilla. Has a smoky mineral quality that gains strength as the wine opens up. Fleshy, sweet and broad on the palate, offering impressively concentrated yet lively blackcurrant, boysenberry and violet pastille flavors that are lifted and sharpened by a smoky mineral flourish. Smooth, seamless and appealingly sweet on an extremely long, floral-dominated finish that"s framed by suave, well-knit tannins.Inc. VAT£1,339.49 -
Wine Advocate (99)
The 2018 RunRig is perfectly eloquent of the 2018 vintage. It was warm and dry, and the reds produced both in Barossa and Eden Valleys were of very high quality. Here, the 2018 could be stylistically compared to 2016, however the 2018 offers tremendous chisel and definition of both the tannins and the nuanced fruit profile. This is a brilliantly polished and sleek wine that, while approachable and ready for drinking now, offers none of the gracious complexity that it will no doubt develop with patient cellaring. Should you wish to see the potential of this wine, plan to open a bottle in 2040. Should you feel impatient, opening a bottle now will suffice—it is very good today. 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.Inc. VAT£1,354.40 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
The 2019 RunRig hails from a hot, dry vintage, and the wine here is brooding, structurally firm and savory. The wine is thoroughly black, both in the glass and in its nature—black fruit, black spice, brooding tannins. While the 2018 may be open for business now, this should remain closed for some time yet—2030 as a minimum would be the recommendation. 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.Inc. VAT£1,134.80 -
(1x75cl) 2021Matthew Jukes (20+)
2021 RunRig will make you turn your head while you gawp in disbelief. This wine has something I have never seen in Runrig before – an immovable mountain of terroir, monolithically anchored in its core. Standing at the foot of this gargantuan flavour, I could not see the summit. There is so much ravishing Shiraz skin draped decorously around this totemic terroir it appears wholly demonic and fear-inducing. But the fruit notes are as refined and finely tuned as ever, providing the taster with a baffling counterpoint between the Dark Side and a Venetian dandy, resplendent in its filigree and finery. I cannot remember seeing two such opposing characters in one wine before, and every time I went back to the glass, there was more to admire, and these elements fuse and shape-shift into a glorious amalgam of sophistication and power. Of course, it deserves a perfect score. This wine is unique and uniquely stunning. I wish I could attend every opening of 2021 RunRig – oh, to be a fly on the wall, listening to the gasps of delight when people are lucky enough to taste this wine.Inc. VAT£217.87 -
(6x75cl) 2003Wine Advocate (96)
Primarily Shiraz with a tiny dollop of Viognier, the blockbuster 2003 Descendant spent 18 months in used French oak (barrels that were previously used for Torbreck’s flagship cuvee, Run Rig). A spectacular perfume of flowers, blackberries, cassis, licorice, and honeysuckle is followed by an unctuously textured, full-bodied red displaying a seamless integration of wood, tannin, acidity, and alcohol. With elegance, power, richness, and just about everything one could want in a full-throttle, beautifully balanced dry red wine, it will drink well for 12-15 years.Inc. VAT£746.44 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2004 Descendant, an old oak-aged blend of 92% Shiraz and 8% Viognier from a 12-year old vineyard, offers up notes of blackberries, ink, sweet truffles, and acacia flowers. There are 1,000 cases of this full-bodied, intense, rich blockbuster. It will drink well for 10-15 years.Inc. VAT£446.78 -
(6x75cl) 2016
Wine Advocate (97)
A blend of 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier aged in second fill barriques (all French oak), the 2016 Descendant features lovely floral aromas, accented by blueberries and a hint of apricot. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and creamy in texture, hugely mouthfilling yet somehow without excessive weight or heat, while the plush, velvety finish adds a hint of dark chocolate. It's a terrific success at a still-reasonable price for the quality.Inc. VAT£743.98 -
(1x75cl) 2019Wine Advocate (97+)
2019 followed the warm (but excellent) 2018 in the Barossa, and was marred by low yields and very concentrated fruit. 2020 was another step further down that low-yielding, dry track, completing a trio of concentrated, brooding vintages that are, as the years go by, harder and harder to get ahold of. So, the 2019 Descendant includes Viognier skins in the ferment, usually around 2%, and the fruit is sourced from vines planted from cuttings from the RunRig Vineyard. A baby Runrig, if you will. So, this is silky, slippery, tannic and intense, with layers of vibrant raspberry, jasmine tea, red licorice, jelly snakes and deli meat. As usual for the Torbreck reds, the texture of the wine is velvety, plush, intense and enveloping. This ages very well, we know it does, but if you must drink it early, decant it!Inc. VAT£132.25 -
Wine Advocate (99)
Remarkably, the 2002 The Factor may be even more awesome than the 2001. It boasts a blackberry liqueur-like intensity with chocolatey richness intermixed with blackberries, raspberries, and cherries. The unctuous texture, refreshing acidity, and sweet tannin frame-up this magnificent wine. It should drink well for 15+ years. Interestingly, the 2002 The Factor did not have the Cote Rotie-like roasted element found in the 2001, no doubt because 2002 was a much cooler growing year than the record heat experienced in 2001.Inc. VAT£412.84 -
(6x75cl) 2003
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2003 The Factor (100% Shiraz aged 24 months in old French oak) is a riveting effort that displays the exquisite talent of David Powell. Its smoky perfume of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cherries, acacia flowers, and espresso roast is followed by a full-throttle, multi-layered palate as well as a 60-second finish. This stunning Shiraz should drink well for 10-15+ years.Inc. VAT£601.18 -
Wine Advocate (95)
Aged in 50% new oak, Tobreck's 2017 The Factor boasts hickory-like smoky aromas, plus plum and blackberry fruit. It's full-bodied and firmly built, finishing with hints of chocolate, licorice and dusty tannins. Give it another 2-3 years in the cellar, then drink it over the next decade and a half.Inc. VAT£114.53 -
Wine Advocate (96)
This is quintessential Barossa. The red dirt in the ground rises up in the glass and transports me right back there: middle summer, hot, spicy air blowing across the tops of old vines. It's evocative. This 2019 The Factor is Port-y, concentrated and savory as all hell, with charred barrels, lamb fat, black pepper, salted licorice, pomegranate molasses and aniseed. This is about as big as I can cope with and still enjoy it; it takes density and intensity to a whole new level—no surprise for the vintage, the region and the producer. A perfect storm of thunderous strength. Like staring into the abyss . . . a little bit scary, but transfixing nonetheless.Inc. VAT£113.33 -
(1x75cl) 2020Matthew Jukes (19.5+)
2020 The Factor is the fashion world’s equivalent of a midnight black ballgown, brimming with CGI detail. This is Australia’s Hermitage but blacker, more mineral-drenched, more focussed and, believe it or not, less seemingly tannic and terrifying. The Factor is all about the most luxurious textures and the most incredible control. It is a rich and layered wine, but it shows no trace of excess or ebullience. It is the epitome of measured fruit, lock-step organisation and thrilling symmetry. In the Factor, Runrig, Laird triumvirate, this is the most approachable and kindly of the three wines, but it is also a mighty creation with Mensa-like detail and mind-bending length.Inc. VAT£132.25 -
Wine Advocate (98+)
Very deep purple-black colored, Torbreck's 2010 The Laird offers an extraordinary perfume of Chinese five spice, sandalwood, rose petals, espresso and licorice over a core of prunes, dried mulberries and blackcurrant preserves plus a touch of cloves. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and packed with dried black fruits and exotic spice flavors, the generous fruit is structured with velvety tannins and just enough freshness. It finishes with commendable persistence.Inc. VAT£1,964.02 -
Wine Advocate (97)
There's no denying the power and concentration of Torbreck's 2013 The Laird. The fruit is impressive, the oak luxurious, the texture velvety, yet I can't help but wonder if it needs to spend that extra time in barrel. Complex notes of baking spices, licorice and pepper add nuance to the Christmas-cake flavors and somehow emerge savory on the long finish. It's a wonderful wine, but would I rather have three bottles of RunRig? Without question.Inc. VAT£2,021.54 -
James Suckling (98)
A single plot, planted by Malcolm Seppelt in 1958. A very complex and intense array of tarry dark-plum, clove and cardamom aromas. Plum paste, currants, blueberries and black cherries, too. There’s a load of dark spice here. The palate has a very intense delivery of such concentrated and intense dark, ripe plum and blackberry-essence flavors. Aged for 36 months in new French oak barriques. Extended flavors, a dark-chocolate note and emulsified tannins. Unique and complex wine. Best from 2025.Inc. VAT£1,427.56 -
James Suckling (98)
A single plot, planted by Malcolm Seppelt in 1958. A very complex and intense array of tarry dark-plum, clove and cardamom aromas. Plum paste, currants, blueberries and black cherries, too. There’s a load of dark spice here. The palate has a very intense delivery of such concentrated and intense dark, ripe plum and blackberry-essence flavors. Aged for 36 months in new French oak barriques. Extended flavors, a dark-chocolate note and emulsified tannins. Unique and complex wine. Best from 2025.Inc. VAT£1,598.02 -
James Suckling (99)
A distinctive and very concentrated, single-parcel shiraz that offers a rich plum and raisin nose with plenty of tarry notes and a swathe of baking spices. The palate is packed with rich, dark-plum and black-fruit flavors and the long, strong hold on the finish lasts for minutes. So intense, this is their finest Laird to date. Best from 2028.Inc. VAT£1,841.62 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
A new offering, the 2004 The Pict, is a 220-case cuvee of 100% Mourvedre that tips the scales at 13.2% alcohol. Reminiscent of a 1998 Domaine Tempier Cuvee Speciale (a great vintage for that estate), it boasts an inky/blue/purple color, phenomenally intense blueberry and blackberry fruit characteristics, and hints of black truffles as well as fresh mushrooms. Deep and full-bodied, with superb fruit and the right amount of sweet tannin (a rarity for Mourvedre), this beauty should evolve slowly, and drink well for 15 or more years.Inc. VAT£573.90 -
Vinous (93+)
(100% mataro) Glass-staining ruby. Powerful scents of blackcurrant, dark cherry, olive tapenade and incense, with a musky herbal undertone. Broad, palate-staining dark berry compote flavors are framed by velvety tannins and pick up notes of licorice and bitter chocolate with air. Pretty wild stuff, boasting excellent concentration and finishing sweetness. There are plenty of tannins here but the fruit seems to suck them up. Give this another four or five years in the cellar.Inc. VAT£184.39
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Vinous (93-95)
The 2020 Corton Grand Cru, which comes from Les Combes as usual (though not on the label), has a lovely nose with brambly red fruit, black truffle and subtle pencil box aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, very fine tension and an almost sorbet-fresh, quite mouth-coating finish. It will require time in bottle...but this Corton will be worth the wait.In Bond£444.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-93)
Rich purple, perhaps not quite so dense. Ripe strawberry with some floral rose notes in a concentrated register, then an explosion of blackcurrant, blackberry and some fresher red berry notes as well on the palate, soft and liquid, though the alcohol is showing, at 15%. Tasted: October 2021In Bond£519.00 -
Vinous (87-89)
The 2018 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Lavières 1er Cru has a perfumed nose, perhaps just missing a little definition due to the warmth of the growing season. The balanced palate offers sweet black cherries and raspberry fruit. Quite spicy on the midpalate, although it does not quite deliver the complexity of the 2016 or 2017 toward the finish. A Savigny more for early drinking.In Bond£204.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021
Vinous (88-90)
The 2021 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Lavières 1er Cru has an attractive nose with light cranberry, raspberry and briary scents. There's a fine definition, if not huge intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a crisp line of acidity and a gentle grip toward the citrus-fresh finish. This works better than the Chorey-lès-Beaune.In Bond£380.00 -
The Real Review (97)
Deep red-purple, bright and clear colour; superb rich ripe black cherry fragrance with a kiss of smoky oak, the palate remarkably full and rich, smooth and fleshy with excellent texture and immediate drinking appeal, although it has the legs to age well too. Serious structure, but also succulent, sweet and plush—almost too much of a good thing. Outstanding pinot noir.In Bond£296.00 -
In Bond£432.00
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International Wine Report (100)
The 2019 Vine Hill Ranch 'Pure Magic' certainly lives up to its name, and it is even more impressive since my last tasting from barrel in April. This possesses such incredible pure characteristics and it is nothing short of magical, living up to its name. It instantly begins to impress as it bursts open to seductive aromas of ripe dark currants, black cherries and even hints of blueberries, which are woven together with exotic spices, violets, herbs, tilled-soil and a touch of licorice that all come together and explode from the glass. On the palate this continues to impress with its plush full-bodied texture that is dense and concentrated. It goes on to display a remarkable sense of freshness and striking overall balance, as layers of beautifully ripe dark fruits cascade on to the long supple finish. The VHR ‘Pure Magic’ is a simply brilliant wine and while it is nothing short of perfection today, it also shows tremendous promise for a tremendous future ahead.In Bond£1,149.00 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
This comes from the most gravelly block in Vine Hill Ranch, Block 7, planted to twenty-year-old vines. The wine sees "classic TOR winemaking" - about three weeks on skins during and post-fermentation. It was matured in a mix of Taransaud and Darnajou small French oak barrels for twenty months, then bottled without fining or filtration. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant black cherries, mulberries and boysenberries notes plus suggestions of pencil shavings, cigar box and cardamom. Medium to full bodied, the palate has an exhilarating, fantastically fine-grained texture, with seamless freshness and bags of black fruit flavors, finishing with a lively herbal lift. 202 cases were made.In Bond£953.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
No RunRig was made in 2000. The 2001 RunRig features six single vineyards, an increase from the two or three that went into the RunRig wines from the 1990s. The nose is more restrained than the previous wines, and the palate is as well, with an undeniable power that surges through the finish. This is tightly wound and closed for the most part, with length that continues long after the wine is gone. This bodes well for its future. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.Inc. VAT£393.60 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
The 2015 RunRig is dark and brooding, with tar and resin, asphalt and tapenade. In the mouth, the fruit is sweet, feathered by vanilla pod and medjool date, mulberry, blood plum and sweet licorice. The length is phenomenally long, and the future will be just as long. The wine is so closed at this stage, and yet it has all the hallmarks required for long aging. 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.In Bond£794.00 -
Vinous (96)
Inky ruby color. Expansive aromas of dark fruit liqueur, incense, candied flowers, Indian spices and vanilla. Has a smoky mineral quality that gains strength as the wine opens up. Fleshy, sweet and broad on the palate, offering impressively concentrated yet lively blackcurrant, boysenberry and violet pastille flavors that are lifted and sharpened by a smoky mineral flourish. Smooth, seamless and appealingly sweet on an extremely long, floral-dominated finish that"s framed by suave, well-knit tannins.In Bond£1,097.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
The 2018 RunRig is perfectly eloquent of the 2018 vintage. It was warm and dry, and the reds produced both in Barossa and Eden Valleys were of very high quality. Here, the 2018 could be stylistically compared to 2016, however the 2018 offers tremendous chisel and definition of both the tannins and the nuanced fruit profile. This is a brilliantly polished and sleek wine that, while approachable and ready for drinking now, offers none of the gracious complexity that it will no doubt develop with patient cellaring. Should you wish to see the potential of this wine, plan to open a bottle in 2040. Should you feel impatient, opening a bottle now will suffice—it is very good today. 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.In Bond£1,108.00 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
The 2019 RunRig hails from a hot, dry vintage, and the wine here is brooding, structurally firm and savory. The wine is thoroughly black, both in the glass and in its nature—black fruit, black spice, brooding tannins. While the 2018 may be open for business now, this should remain closed for some time yet—2030 as a minimum would be the recommendation. 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.In Bond£925.00 -
(1x75cl) 2021
Matthew Jukes (20+)
2021 RunRig will make you turn your head while you gawp in disbelief. This wine has something I have never seen in Runrig before – an immovable mountain of terroir, monolithically anchored in its core. Standing at the foot of this gargantuan flavour, I could not see the summit. There is so much ravishing Shiraz skin draped decorously around this totemic terroir it appears wholly demonic and fear-inducing. But the fruit notes are as refined and finely tuned as ever, providing the taster with a baffling counterpoint between the Dark Side and a Venetian dandy, resplendent in its filigree and finery. I cannot remember seeing two such opposing characters in one wine before, and every time I went back to the glass, there was more to admire, and these elements fuse and shape-shift into a glorious amalgam of sophistication and power. Of course, it deserves a perfect score. This wine is unique and uniquely stunning. I wish I could attend every opening of 2021 RunRig – oh, to be a fly on the wall, listening to the gasps of delight when people are lucky enough to taste this wine.In Bond£178.00 -
(6x75cl) 2003
Wine Advocate (96)
Primarily Shiraz with a tiny dollop of Viognier, the blockbuster 2003 Descendant spent 18 months in used French oak (barrels that were previously used for Torbreck’s flagship cuvee, Run Rig). A spectacular perfume of flowers, blackberries, cassis, licorice, and honeysuckle is followed by an unctuously textured, full-bodied red displaying a seamless integration of wood, tannin, acidity, and alcohol. With elegance, power, richness, and just about everything one could want in a full-throttle, beautifully balanced dry red wine, it will drink well for 12-15 years.In Bond£606.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2004 Descendant, an old oak-aged blend of 92% Shiraz and 8% Viognier from a 12-year old vineyard, offers up notes of blackberries, ink, sweet truffles, and acacia flowers. There are 1,000 cases of this full-bodied, intense, rich blockbuster. It will drink well for 10-15 years.In Bond£359.00 -
(6x75cl) 2016
Wine Advocate (97)
A blend of 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier aged in second fill barriques (all French oak), the 2016 Descendant features lovely floral aromas, accented by blueberries and a hint of apricot. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and creamy in texture, hugely mouthfilling yet somehow without excessive weight or heat, while the plush, velvety finish adds a hint of dark chocolate. It's a terrific success at a still-reasonable price for the quality.In Bond£600.00 -
(1x75cl) 2019
Wine Advocate (97+)
2019 followed the warm (but excellent) 2018 in the Barossa, and was marred by low yields and very concentrated fruit. 2020 was another step further down that low-yielding, dry track, completing a trio of concentrated, brooding vintages that are, as the years go by, harder and harder to get ahold of. So, the 2019 Descendant includes Viognier skins in the ferment, usually around 2%, and the fruit is sourced from vines planted from cuttings from the RunRig Vineyard. A baby Runrig, if you will. So, this is silky, slippery, tannic and intense, with layers of vibrant raspberry, jasmine tea, red licorice, jelly snakes and deli meat. As usual for the Torbreck reds, the texture of the wine is velvety, plush, intense and enveloping. This ages very well, we know it does, but if you must drink it early, decant it!In Bond£107.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
Remarkably, the 2002 The Factor may be even more awesome than the 2001. It boasts a blackberry liqueur-like intensity with chocolatey richness intermixed with blackberries, raspberries, and cherries. The unctuous texture, refreshing acidity, and sweet tannin frame-up this magnificent wine. It should drink well for 15+ years. Interestingly, the 2002 The Factor did not have the Cote Rotie-like roasted element found in the 2001, no doubt because 2002 was a much cooler growing year than the record heat experienced in 2001.In Bond£328.00 -
(6x75cl) 2003
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2003 The Factor (100% Shiraz aged 24 months in old French oak) is a riveting effort that displays the exquisite talent of David Powell. Its smoky perfume of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cherries, acacia flowers, and espresso roast is followed by a full-throttle, multi-layered palate as well as a 60-second finish. This stunning Shiraz should drink well for 10-15+ years.In Bond£481.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
Aged in 50% new oak, Tobreck's 2017 The Factor boasts hickory-like smoky aromas, plus plum and blackberry fruit. It's full-bodied and firmly built, finishing with hints of chocolate, licorice and dusty tannins. Give it another 2-3 years in the cellar, then drink it over the next decade and a half.In Bond£92.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
This is quintessential Barossa. The red dirt in the ground rises up in the glass and transports me right back there: middle summer, hot, spicy air blowing across the tops of old vines. It's evocative. This 2019 The Factor is Port-y, concentrated and savory as all hell, with charred barrels, lamb fat, black pepper, salted licorice, pomegranate molasses and aniseed. This is about as big as I can cope with and still enjoy it; it takes density and intensity to a whole new level—no surprise for the vintage, the region and the producer. A perfect storm of thunderous strength. Like staring into the abyss . . . a little bit scary, but transfixing nonetheless.In Bond£91.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020
Matthew Jukes (19.5+)
2020 The Factor is the fashion world’s equivalent of a midnight black ballgown, brimming with CGI detail. This is Australia’s Hermitage but blacker, more mineral-drenched, more focussed and, believe it or not, less seemingly tannic and terrifying. The Factor is all about the most luxurious textures and the most incredible control. It is a rich and layered wine, but it shows no trace of excess or ebullience. It is the epitome of measured fruit, lock-step organisation and thrilling symmetry. In the Factor, Runrig, Laird triumvirate, this is the most approachable and kindly of the three wines, but it is also a mighty creation with Mensa-like detail and mind-bending length.In Bond£107.00 -
Wine Advocate (98+)
Very deep purple-black colored, Torbreck's 2010 The Laird offers an extraordinary perfume of Chinese five spice, sandalwood, rose petals, espresso and licorice over a core of prunes, dried mulberries and blackcurrant preserves plus a touch of cloves. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and packed with dried black fruits and exotic spice flavors, the generous fruit is structured with velvety tannins and just enough freshness. It finishes with commendable persistence.In Bond£1,626.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
There's no denying the power and concentration of Torbreck's 2013 The Laird. The fruit is impressive, the oak luxurious, the texture velvety, yet I can't help but wonder if it needs to spend that extra time in barrel. Complex notes of baking spices, licorice and pepper add nuance to the Christmas-cake flavors and somehow emerge savory on the long finish. It's a wonderful wine, but would I rather have three bottles of RunRig? Without question.In Bond£1,675.00 -
James Suckling (98)
A single plot, planted by Malcolm Seppelt in 1958. A very complex and intense array of tarry dark-plum, clove and cardamom aromas. Plum paste, currants, blueberries and black cherries, too. There’s a load of dark spice here. The palate has a very intense delivery of such concentrated and intense dark, ripe plum and blackberry-essence flavors. Aged for 36 months in new French oak barriques. Extended flavors, a dark-chocolate note and emulsified tannins. Unique and complex wine. Best from 2025.In Bond£1,183.00 -
James Suckling (98)
A single plot, planted by Malcolm Seppelt in 1958. A very complex and intense array of tarry dark-plum, clove and cardamom aromas. Plum paste, currants, blueberries and black cherries, too. There’s a load of dark spice here. The palate has a very intense delivery of such concentrated and intense dark, ripe plum and blackberry-essence flavors. Aged for 36 months in new French oak barriques. Extended flavors, a dark-chocolate note and emulsified tannins. Unique and complex wine. Best from 2025.In Bond£1,321.00 -
James Suckling (99)
A distinctive and very concentrated, single-parcel shiraz that offers a rich plum and raisin nose with plenty of tarry notes and a swathe of baking spices. The palate is packed with rich, dark-plum and black-fruit flavors and the long, strong hold on the finish lasts for minutes. So intense, this is their finest Laird to date. Best from 2028.In Bond£1,524.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
A new offering, the 2004 The Pict, is a 220-case cuvee of 100% Mourvedre that tips the scales at 13.2% alcohol. Reminiscent of a 1998 Domaine Tempier Cuvee Speciale (a great vintage for that estate), it boasts an inky/blue/purple color, phenomenally intense blueberry and blackberry fruit characteristics, and hints of black truffles as well as fresh mushrooms. Deep and full-bodied, with superb fruit and the right amount of sweet tannin (a rarity for Mourvedre), this beauty should evolve slowly, and drink well for 15 or more years.In Bond£454.00 -
Vinous (93+)
(100% mataro) Glass-staining ruby. Powerful scents of blackcurrant, dark cherry, olive tapenade and incense, with a musky herbal undertone. Broad, palate-staining dark berry compote flavors are framed by velvety tannins and pick up notes of licorice and bitter chocolate with air. Pretty wild stuff, boasting excellent concentration and finishing sweetness. There are plenty of tannins here but the fruit seems to suck them up. Give this another four or five years in the cellar.In Bond£147.00
