2007 Torbreck The Steading

Wine Advocate
"91 pts ... The 2007 Steading is the same blend as the Juveniles bottling but aged for 2 years in old oak. Reminiscent of a quality Chateauneuf-du-Pape, this purple-colored wine emits aromas of Asian spices, lavender, garrigue, black cherry, and kirsch. Dense, sweet, and concentrated, it has excellent grip, succulent flavors, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish."

Stephen Tanzer
"92 pts ... 60% Grenache and 20% each of Mataro and Shiraz. Medium red. Raspberry preserves and plum on the nose. Lush and creamy, with a decadent quality to the sweet red fruit flavors. Bitter chocolate and black tea notes add grip and structure to the powerful, liqueur-like fruit on the long, sappy, seductively sweet finish. Really clings to the palate. This is delicious now: I can barely find any tannins."

Winemaker's Notes
"The 2007 Steading is composed from the traditional Barossa cultivars of Grenache, Shiraz & Mataro. It has long been David Powell’s favourite wine within the Torbreck stable because of the old, gnarled ‘bush vines’ that produce its core. Deep ruby with flickers of violet, its delicate aromas of truffle, five spice and spring flowers are supported by a rich core of framboise, licorice, saddle leather and Provencal herbs. Very ‘Burgundian’ in style, the palate is elegant and pure with subtle notes of crushed cherries, earth and cedar all neatly wound by a taught spine of acidity and ripe supple tannins. The 2007 Steading will continue to unfold with time in the cellar & shall provide those with the patience great enjoyment for many years to come."

Technical Notes
"Grenache (60%), Shiraz (20%) & Mataro (20%). Each of the individual blocks (many were picked in different stages (tries) to ensure perfectly ripened fruit) were de-stemmed separately into both wooden & concrete open top fermenters where the juice was gently pumped over the skins twice a day for 6-7 days. After basket pressing the wine was gravity fed into underground cement vats where it naturally settled and was later racked into older French Hogsheads. Following 24 months maturation the wine was assembled and bottled in July 2009 without the use of fining or filtration. 15% alc."