The recent entry of Torbreck can’t be downplayed. It has already gained a steady following, and the quality of its wines is at par with older vintners. You’ll easily notice a sense of Rhone Valley’s winemaking styles in its variety of selections, though. Red grape varieties like Shiraz and Grenache are similarly used for its bold blends, as well as white varietals like Viognier and Marsann. Even though the label is a fairly recent entry in the local wine market, no can fault its quality. You can’t downplay new wines made from the rarest and oldest grapevines in the world. Premium labels have to showcase a standout vintage. You’ll grasp the range of this label’s offerings through its RunRig vintage. With outputs as significant as seventy thousand cases per year, you’ll have to admit that this label is the newest one to beat. Most of its production involves red wine varieties and blends, but the variety of its white wine offerings aren’t too shabby either.
The label can be safely described into two wine style preferences, most of which cover selections from both extremes. More people are familiar with its Shiraz offering, which is reminiscent of the Syrah varietal of Europe. Torbreck places equal emphasis on Grenache-based wines, but the process is more involved because these should come from very old vines to be exquisite. On the other hand, Shiraz is fairly easy to use because of its natural versatility. Shiraz wines come from many parts of the world because the grape thrives in various environments. Good Shiraz stock can come from old and new vineyards, and even the high vine yields ensure plenty of quaffable wine. These conveniences and assurances doesn’t apply to Grenache, though. The best Grenache yields always comes from very old vines. Newer vines can provide the same outputs to certain extent if the crop yield is kept to a minimum. Grenache quickly oxidizes as well, so the fermentation process must be closely monitored to ensure the juice doesn’t exceed the ideal level of tannins.
New World wines are somewhat exempted from the standard rules of wine and meal pairings. You can only expect most winemakers to affirm the versatility of their selections by suggesting various meal pairings. Not all varietals make great pairings, though. To this extent, Grenache can be considered as a mid-palate wine, which means that you can satisfactorily pair it with entrees and meal courses. Torbreck wines are versatile enough to accommodate red and white wine preferences, but it’s also unique enough to be particular with its food pairings. These offer a welcome change of pace if you’re used to Old World blends and you want to try something different.
