93

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous

(shiraz with 3% viognier) Full medium ruby. Aromatic nose combines black raspberry, cassis, chocolate, pipe tobacco, flowers and fruitcake. Huge, thick and dense, with superripe yet bright flavors of crushed berries complicated by a saline quality. Superconcentrated shiraz with terrific depth and sweetness of flavor. Finishes with sweet tannins and superb persistence. A very impressive shiraz that's kept fresh by a piquant note of cranberry. Particularly strong in the context of the vintage.

99

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

The youngest Run Rig, the 2001, should equal the 1998 as it is almost a clone aromatically, texturally, and flavor-wise, just much younger. This opaque purple-colored beauty should flirt with perfection over the next 10-15 years. Torbreck’s flagship wine, the Run Rig, is made from 40- to 120-year-old Shiraz vines with some co-fermented Viognier (usually around 3%), tips the scales between 14-15% alcohol, and is aged 30 months in French oak. In contrast to the way they taste upon release, neither the 1998 or 1997 Run Rig revealed any oak. 06/2009

99

Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck

Utterly profound and a riveting example of Shiraz, the 2001 Torbreck Run Rig, 97% Shiraz and 3% Viognier that’s added just prior to bottling, delivers a spectacular bouquet of cassis, blackberry, graphite, bacon, and assorted savory, meaty characteristics that literally comes leaping out of the glass. Captivating on the palate as well, the wine delivers a full bodied, perfectly proportioned feel to go with a seamless, pure silk texture, beautiful purity of fruit, and impeccable balance, and a very long, brilliant finish. This is no doubt a big wine, but nothing is out of place and it is pure joy to drink. I would consume bottles over the coming 5-8 years, although it could age longer. 06/2011