2020 Torbreck Descendant

From a single vineyard planted in 1994 using cuttings from Run Rig vineyards, Descendant is a co-fermented blend of 91% Shiraz and 9% Viognier matured for 20 months in second fill French oak barriques previously used for Run Rig.
Dense inky black heart with an equally deep black dark red hue. Potent dark plum, blackberry and liquorice aromas flood the olfactory senses with toasty vanillin oak, fennel, subtle honeysuckle and peppered earth notes ensuing. Rich, exceptionally concentrated and densely textured the palate is saturated in dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruit with a firm tannin structure providing the framework. Voluptuous yet very muscular and assertive in its feel, notions of scorched earth, vanillin cedar and peppered fennel also chime in. Outstanding power with a long grippy black fruited conclusion.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 15%

Other Reviews….
The Descendant is a Shiraz Viognier blend, co-fermented. This year, the 2020 Descendant comprises 91% Shiraz and 9% Viognier; the vineyard is in Marananga and was planted in 1994, from cuttings form the RunRig vineyard. It matured for 20 months in second fill French oak barriques, previously used for the RunRig. In every way (price, vineyard source, cepage, maturation), this wine is a baby RunRig, although there remain some stylistic differences in the mouth. For one thing, this 2020 Descendant has been matured (as mentioned) in older oak, so the imprint of oak flavors is more subtle. While there is no denying that the texture has an extreme slick and polish (it is almost thick in the mouth, truly plush) from the high percentage of Viognier, the wine is pure and glossy and exuberantly fruit driven. The tannins, which exist very much within the wine, are savory and exotically spiced: star anise, clove, hints of cardamom, licorice, red dirt and iodine. This is very good, luxurious, enveloping, sybaritic, with lots going on. Drink 2023-2040.
96+ points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate