2002 Torbreck Grenache Les Amis

The youngest wine we tasted was the sensational 2002 Les Amis (100% Grenache from 100+-year-old vines). This is a Grenache aged in new oak (something I normally don’t like), but at age seven it has thrown off any evidence of its barrique aging, exhibiting classic notes of black raspberries, black currants, lavender, earth, and pepper. Full-bodied with gorgeous purity, a multilayered texture, and a long finish with no hard edges, it should have another 8-10 years of life left. Torbreck’s flagship wine, the Run Rig, is made from 40- to 120-year-old Shiraz vines with some co-fermented Viognier (usually around 3%), tips the scales between 14-15% alcohol, and is aged 30 months in French oak. In contrast to the way they taste upon release, neither the 1998 or 1997 Run Rig revealed any oak.