Torbreck The Runrig Shiraz 2023 is one of Australia’s most celebrated and collectible wines — a blend of old vine Barossa Shiraz and Viognier that draws comparison with the great wines of both Côte Rôtie and Hermitage, combining the fragrant, tautly structured elegance of the former with the concentrated, sun-drenched power of the latter. Produced from six distinguished old vine Shiraz vineyards in the Barossa Valley — some with plantings exceeding 170 years of age — RunRig is a wine of extraordinary depth, precision, and longevity. Satsuma plum, dried rose petals, black cherry, graphite, and cocoa on the nose; dense, firm, and powerfully structured on the palate. Best after 2025 — 2060. Rated 20/20 by Matthew Jukes.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Intense core with a deep purple rim — the concentrated, vivid colour of a Barossa Valley Shiraz of exceptional depth and power, sourced from old vine parcels some exceeding 170 years of age, with the clarity and precision that unfiltered bottling and 30 months of French oak maturation deliver.
Aroma
Enthralling and immediately distinctive — lifted satsuma plum, dried rose petals, and black cherry combine with graphite, cocoa, Turkish delight, star anise, Earl Grey tea, and black olive. Gorgeous plumes of vanilla pod, sandalwood, and mild cardamom add further dimension — a nose of distinguishable finesse, power, precision, and focus.
Palate
Dense, firm, and powerfully structured — yet holding incredibly balanced fruit intermingled with voluminous, well-integrated tannins. One of the finest RunRig expressions from a balanced and even growing season, with a finish of extraordinary length and complexity. A wine for the cellar — best after 2025, drinking through 2060. Serve at 16°C.
Pairs With
Torbreck The Runrig Shiraz 2023 demands rich, flavoursome cuisine — slow-roasted lamb, aged beef, venison, wild boar, truffle dishes, and aged hard cheeses. A wine of rare distinction equally rewarding as a contemplative digestif.
Reviews
Matthew Jukes — 20/20
“In 2023, this is yet another super-serious and stunningly deep wine. The perfume is elevated, the palate is dense and regal, and the finish is initially ostentatious, then, at once, becomes contemplative and sage-like. Very dry, fine and hard, this is a classic example of a powerful wine that will drink well in its youth and then follow the two-decade RunRig mantra without missing a beat. I went back to my empty glass an hour later, and it was still utterly incredible. I would give it a higher score if I could, but 2023 RunRig will have to live with another perfect twenty.”
