The Highland clans used a ‘RunRig’ system to distribute land amongst their clansmen in a series of widely dispersed holdings. The emphasis was not on any one farm but rather the communal element of the whole. Shiraz from old dry grown Barossa vineyards is blended with Viognier, complementing the strengths and complexities of these individual parcels of fruit, whilst giving the resulting wine a further dimension. RunRig has often drawn comparison with the beautifully fragrant and tautly structured wines of Côte-Rôtie in the Northern Rhône.

The 2019 Vintage

The growing season was defined by a continuously warm to hot summer with no effective rainfall, wind and hail at flowering, followed by three major frosts – resulting in an earlier and much smaller harvest than average. These tough conditions produced smaller clusters of intensely dark berries with thick fleshy skins. Whilst yields were down, once these vineyards were fermenting in the cellar the concentration of colour, tannin and aroma of the 2019 vintage was revealed.

Tasting Note

Complex and lifted aromatics of dense black fruits such as blackberries, satsuma plum, black cherry, cassis and mulberry, complemented with dark chocolate, cacao bean, vanilla pod, tar, star anise and Turkish delight. The opulent full-bodied mouthfeel and vibrancy is a real standout on a plush yet mineral-strewn, velvety textured palate. The complex layers and fruit characters continue to evolve in the glass with firm but drying tannins seamlessly balanced with long acid and statuesque posture and length. A wine for the cellar, best after 2025–2045. Serve at 16°C with beef rib or osso buco.

Critic Scores

98 Points The Wine Advocate • 98 Points James Suckling

Technical Details

• Variety: 98.5% Shiraz, 1.5% Viognier
• Vineyards: 6 old-vine vineyards, assemblage
• Sub-regions: Lyndoch, Rowland Flat, Moppa, Ebenezer, Light Pass, Greenock
• Harvest: 1 March – 22 March 2019
• Maturation: 30 months in new (50%), second and third fill French oak barriques, completing natural malolactic fermentation in barrel and resting on fine lees
• Alcohol: 15%
• Cellaring: Best after 2025–2045 (30+ years)

Large-format bottles in Torbreck’s cellar release have never left the Torbreck cellar and are wax sealed by the winery once ordered, to ensure the cork is in perfect condition.

Vintage report, tasting note and technical details: Torbreck Vintners, 2019 RunRig technical sheet (torbreck.com). Critic scores as published by Torbreck (RunRig Collection 2016–2021 release); scores refer to the wine.

Vintage 2019 | 1500mL Magnum | Barossa Valley, South Australia.