2018 Descendant

92% Shiraz and 8% Viognier co-fermented from the Descendant vineyard planted in 1994 with cuttings from RunRig vineyards. Picked on 29 March and aged for 20 months in second-fill French barriques previously used for RunRig. Blackish crimson but with a little evolution at the rim. Fragrant – am I imagining a little of the heady, blossomy aroma of Viognier? Another Torbreck red that's as smooth as a baby's bottom. If you can hack the high alcohol, this is a wine that will deliver a great deal of pleasure and can already be broached. Some heat on the end. Very light mintiness on the nose but beautifully balanced on the palate. Just a tiny bit of a chew on the end. But it's a winter wine really… (JR)

What a lush, charming, wonderfully drinkable wine. The 2018 Descendant, made by fermenting Shiraz on Viognier skins, is a terrific effort, starting from its intriguing spicy, peppery aromas. Those notes are seamlessly intertwined with impressively ripe fruit scents evocative of blueberries and cherries, while the full-bodied palate is plush, creamy and supple without being unstructured or overblown. Softly dusty tannins ground the finish, lending a sense of savory balance to this beauty. Descendent is one of my favorite Torbreck bottlings year after year, and this may be the best one yet.

Shiraz co-fermented with 8% viognier, this has aromas of spiced blackberries and dark plums with chocolate notes, too. The palate has a round, silky feel with a mouthful of spicy dark-plum flavors, wrapped around long, even tannins. Impressive now, but even better in five years.