Torbreck The Struie Shiraz 2024

Vintage Conditions

The 2024 vintage at Torbreck saw exceptional conditions leading up to harvest, with timely spring rainfall and calm conditions for flowering and fruit set creating an ideal foundation for the season. A mild to warm summer was idyllic, propelling even growth and fruit development across the estate's vineyards. The warm early summer brought on Shiraz showing bright colours and fragrance, persisting for several weeks before accelerating to powerful dark fruit and fragrantly spiced characteristics that define this outstanding vintage. A cooler break mid-April allowed grenache and mataro vineyards to develop deep colours and firm tannins, adding to the diversity of the season. With harvest concluding on 19th April, Torbreck is extremely pleased with the strength and diversity of wines made from the 2024 season. The Struie benefits from fruit sourced from a 40-year-old Eden Valley Shiraz vineyard at high altitude (400-500 metres) and an 80-year-old Barossa Shiraz vineyard at lower elevation (200-300 metres). The Eden Valley's cooler climate and 1-2 weeks later ripening pattern results in more distinctive varietal flavour characteristics, lower pH, and higher acidities, whilst the Barossa fruit provides richness and depth—a skilful marriage of elegance and intensity.

Winemaking Notes

The Struie is a blend of Shiraz from high-altitude Eden Valley vineyards and lower-elevation Barossa Valley sites, with Eden fruit contributing structure and lifted aromatics whilst Barossa parcels provide richness and depth. Each vineyard is vinified separately in open-top fermenters, allowing for careful extraction and development of the wine's characteristic soft, plush tannins and glossy fruit character. The wines are basket-pressed to ensure gentle handling and preservation of the elegant structure that defines this cuvée. Following fermentation, the wines are matured in a mix of seasoned and select new French oak barriques for around 18 months, developing the graphite, sandalwood, liquorice, and dark cocoa chocolate notes that meld effortlessly with the abundant black and blue fruits. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, The Struie is a poised, expressive Shiraz combining elegance with regional power, showcasing the earthy forest floor complexity and textured mouthfeel that make this wine a true pleasure. Named after a 157-metre-high mountain in the rugged highlands of north-east Scotland, The Struie reflects Torbreck's Celtic heritage—the view from the Struie down across the Dornoch Firth is as inspiring as that of the Valley floor from Eden Valley. Ready now, this wine will reward for up to fifteen years but is probably best enjoyed in the first ten. Serve at 16°C with Texas BBQ ribs or any of your favourite steaks.