92

Josh Raynolds

Vinous

Deep violet. Boysenberry, blueberry, dark plum, baking spices, smoked meat, cured tobacco and a hint of graphite on the flamboyant nose. Explosively flavored and rich, with lush dark berry, plum preserve and fruitcake flavors lifted by notes of candied licorice and minerals. A sweet, fat wine that's also focused, even elegant, with a suave, spicy finish featuring big but harmonious tannins. Shows impressive energy for the vintage, too.

96

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

The 2003 The Factor (100% Shiraz aged 24 months in old French oak) is a riveting effort that displays the exquisite talent of David Powell. Its smoky perfume of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cherries, acacia flowers, and espresso roast is followed by a full-throttle, multi-layered palate as well as a 60-second finish. This stunning Shiraz should drink well for 10-15 years. David Powell, unquestionably one of the world’s finest wine producers, has an uncanny ability to discover old vine Barossa vineyards, and then secure long term contracts for their fruit. It is amazing that such high quality sources have not already been plucked by Australia’s giant wine corporations. Torbreck’s wines continue to get better and better, combining the old vine ripe fruit of Barossa with a European sensitivity to elegance and balance. The finest wines in this portfolio are pricy, but David Powell delivers some remarkable reds and whites at prices that are more than fair for the quality in the bottle.