The 2005 Les Amis sourced from a 100+-year-old vineyard is 100% Grenache aged for 18 months in new oak. Remarkably fragrant it emits full-throttle aromas of spice box kirsch wild raspberry and blackberry liqueur. Plush on the palate it reveals layers of rich red and black berry flavors ripe tannin and a 60-second pure finish. Although it can be admired now the wine merits 6-8 years of further bottle aging to reveal all of its splendors. This sensational effort could easily masquerade as Pegau Cuvee de Capo on human growth hormone. Torbreck under the leadership of owner/winemaker David Powell remains a Barossa Valley benchmark as well as one of the world's greatest wine estates. The top cuvees are limited production and expensive but there are also some outstanding values in the portfolio. With regard to the current vintages for the Barossa red wines David Powell states â_o? 2004 is more savory while 2005 has more purity and definition. 2004 is more classic 2005 will take longer to come around.â__Importer: Jon Elkins The Australian Wine Connection Carlsbad CA; www.torbreck.com

Drank next to a 2003 Pegau, the 2005 Torbreck Grenache Les Amis seemed amazingly clean, pure and elegant with seamless integration and balance. The nose has soaring aromatics and shows fabulously sweet raspberry and blueberry fruit, spice, vanilla and integrated oak aromas and comes across as very clean and fruit driven but not even close to over the top. Full bodied and perfectly built, this shows sweet fruit, amazing concentration, awesome balance and a huge, blockbuster finish.

Winemaker David Powell gets this Grenache from vines planted in 1901 in Seppeltsfield. Their concentrated fruit yields a black-cherry-scented wine that’s broad and mouthfilling, yet kept focused by flavors of earth and spice. Picks up a touch of vanilla from the new French oak on the finish, but also ends with a luscious, velvety texture. Drink now–2012.

17.5/20 A big contrast to the Clarendon - much more user-friendly. All the warmth of South Australia plus a certain decadent tarriness. Lots of fresh, well-integrated acidity and a comfortable, warming, flattering drink. Polished, and already quite open. This wine was aged in new oak but has absorbed it well.