Torbreck The Struie 2021

The 2021 The Struie is 100% Shiraz from both the Barossa (57%) and the Eden Valley (43%), and it matured for 18 months in French oak (20% new). The proportion of Eden Valley inclusion is usually around 25%, but in 2019, it was down to 10% due to the very low yields. So, this 2021 Struie is blue-fruited on the nose, with blueberry, licorice, black tea, crushed rocks, summer raspberry, layers of campfire embers and clove. It might be that in many of the tasting notes from 2021, that the wines outperform previous vintages. This is because the cool season was long, so great ripeness was achieved, without the stress or impact of heat events and disease. It's a lovely, lovely year that has made wines with freshness and intensity. The tannins through the finish here are savory and fine and black.

This 2021 The Struie, a blend of Barossa and Eden Valley Shiraz, shows a delicious split personality. A rich bed of Barossa dark cherry and mulberry fruits is topped by finer Eden nuances in the form of crushed stones and dried sage. A focused palate follows the same vein, laced with tarry, spicy complexity delivered over a lengthy finish. Quite tightly coiled, this will be very attractive over the next decade and possibly longer.

This inky Shiraz is ripe and plush with densely packed aromas of plum, black cherry, ground pepper and graphite with some toasty oak on display. It's a teeth-staining wine that oozes ripe, luscious dark fruit, framed in savory tannins. Still young and quite primary, this should cellar nicely for at least a decade.