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 2015 Vintage

Above average rains in 2014 filled the soil profile, which was followed by a helpful deluge of rain for dry grown vineyards in January 2015. Generally dry for the remainder of vintage, warm days and cool nights created the perfect ripening conditions.

Tasting Note

Intense, lifted aromatics of dense cherry plum and dark chocolate all come to the fore with an opulent fruit profile of mulberry and five-spice. A silky textured palate of deep red cherry fruits, clove and liquorice all interwoven with hints of sweet spice and cinnamon. The layers and diverse fruit characters continue to evolve in the glass with hints of ironstone, anise, blackberry and pepper all becoming more persistent in the finish. This silky, fragrant RunRig will certainly reward those with patience.

Technical Details

• Variety: 98% Shiraz, 2% Viognier
• Vineyards: 6 old-vine vineyards, assemblage
• Sub-regions: Lyndoch, Rowland Flat, Greenock, Moppa, Ebenezer, Light Pass
• Harvest: 19 February – 20 March 2015
• 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: 15 to 20 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, 2015 RunRig technical sheet (torbreck.com).

Vintage 2015 | 3000mL Double Magnum | Barossa Valley, South Australia.