Torbreck Old Vines GSM is a very Australian blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro (Mourvedre) sourced from selected parcels of Old Vines in the Barossa Valley. Technically this wine is an MSG, but I’ll stick to calling it GSM to avoid any unwanted confusion. It is rich, powerful and packed with a wonderful mixture of red and black berry flavours. Cassis, plum, damson and redcurrants are backed up by lovely savoury notes, touches of leather and pepper spice. Although rich, the wine has great underlying freshness and beautiful lifted aromatics. Great with meat. The blend is 53% Mourvedre, 43% Shiraz & 4% Grenache.

Torbreck Vintners, based in the Barossa Valley, was founded in 1994 by Dave Powell and quickly gained a reputation as one of Australia’s finest producers. Production is heavily focused on Rhone Valley varietals and there has always been a belief in terroir (A strange concept to Australians in 1994) with the winery producing several wines from selected vineyard areas rather than blending to make one wine. Dave spent some time in Scotland where he worked as a lumberjack and met his wife. Torbreck is the name of a forest which sits south of Inverness at the top of Loch Ness. I assume Dave cut some of it down in his early years! With wines named Runrig, The Laird, The Struie, The Pict and the Factor, the winery retains a very Scottish feel.