Australia
Torbreck – Semillon
Torbreck Winery
Since 1994, Torbreck has been committed to creating exceptional Rhone style red and white wines reflecting the very best vineyards in Australia’s famous Barossa Valley.
Torbreck proprietor Pete Kight believes the Barossa Valley is the most exciting place to make wine in the world, with its gentle Mediterranean climate and 175 years of Silesian and English commitment to winemaking and grape-growing.
There is a European sense of tradition here that means vines planted in the 1840s – many of them Rhone varieties such as Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvédre – still thrive and bear fruit of unique concentration and flavor.
Torbreck pays tribute to these vineyards with minimal intervention, creating wines of richness, structure and length that age gracefully.
The multi-generational growers, whose descendants arrived here nearly two centuries ago, are the backbone of Torbreck’s winemaking aspirations. Without their knowledge of the seasons and the soil, there would not be such a precious resource of fruit with which to work.
Torbreck has also been fortunate to have the opportunity to invest in the protection of some of the Barossa Valley’s most precious vineyards after accepting fruit from them over many years. The historic Hillside Vineyard at Lyndoch, The Laird Vineyard in the sub-region of Marananga and the Greenock Keller Vineyard owned by the Schultz family, are all now under the custodianship of Torbreck.
In 2008 this long-term commitment to the Barossa Valley was cemented when Torbreck completed their winery and bottling line, enabling them to achieve maximum quality control through 100% estate vinification, maturation and packaging.
Torbreck’s latest development was the 2017 expansion of the original settler’s cottage cellar door to become an international guest center. Torbreck has achieved a lot in less than three decades, but the journey is a long way from complete. Torbreck’s proprietor Pete Kite believes the best Barossa grapes are yet to be picked and the finest Torbreck wines are yet to be made.
2023 Woodcutter’s Semillon
“Fashioned with the savory, food friendly dry whites of Southern France in mind, Woodcutter’s Semillon is the ideal tonic after a long day in the vineyard.” This 100% Semillon wine has found a natural home in the Barossa Valley. Semillon was one of the early white wine grape varieties planted by the first settlers around 160 years ago and the Mediterranean climate and careful farming has created a heritage of old, low yielding Semillon vineyards. With the use of an age-old, robust, pink-skinned Madeira clone, found mainly in the Barossa Valley, the Woodcutter’s Semillon is reminiscent of the savory white wines found in the central and southern regions of France.
The 2023 growing season brought above-average rainfall in winter and spring and a cooler summer. The majority of the harvest took place in the colder months, and most vineyards were not harvested until April, approximately one month later than usual. Cooler seasons can pose several challenges, but through our dedicated commitment to viticulture practices, such as hand pruning and harvesting with careful soil management, the vintage resulted in low-yielding and resilient fruit. The upside, however, to a cool season is far greater, and producers and wine enthusiasts alike hold these seasons in high regard.
The natural acidity and medium body of the Semillon grape takes great pride in the 100+ year old Barossa Valley vineyards that are naturally suited to the region. A wine that shows lifted aromas of fresh citrus fruits of Amalfi lemon, kaffir lime, grapefruit pith balanced by aromatic perfume of citrus flowers such as lemon myrtle and infused citrus like candlewax. The palate is a little firmer and tighter than previous vintages with tangy, needle like acidity cleansing to the finish. Enjoy as either a fresh young wine or age for up to 15 years to reveal brioche, lemon curd pastry like notes.
Two Hands Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep purple to black hue. The bouquet springs forward with high tone notes of cedar, black currant, sarsaparilla, fresh licorice, cloves, aniseed and smoked meats. The palate is medium weight in texture. It starts out with a nice core of dark fruits that draw late into the palate. When the tannins take over they are broad in appeal, with loads of cassis and black fruit flavors.