($145; shiraz with 3% viognier) Full medium ruby. Aromatic nose combines black raspberry, cassis, chocolate, pipe tobacco, flowers and fruitcake. Huge, thick and dense, with superripe yet bright flavors of crushed berries complicated by a saline quality. Superconcentrated shiraz with terrific depth and sweetness of flavor. Finishes with sweet tannins and superb persistence. A very impressive shiraz that's kept fresh by a piquant note of cranberry. Particularly strong in the context of the vintage. (The Australian Wine Connection, Carlsbad, CA)

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Constantly flirting with perfection, the 2001 Run Rig is a worthy successor to the blockbuster, surreal 1998. A blend of 97% Shiraz and 3% Viognier, this is Torbreck's flagship offering. Sadly, there are only 1,500 cases produced. Sourced from old vines, some close to 140 years of age, it is fashioned from four sectors of Barossa - Marananga, Koonunga Hill, Moppa, and Greenock. It spends 30 months in 60% new French oak before being bottled without fining or filtration. The powerful, full-bodied 2001 exhibits aromas of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, ink, espresso, graphite, and apricot marmalade. The impression on the palate is one of marvelous richness, expansive texture, a multi-layered skyscraper soaring across the palate with no heaviness. It is a tour de force in winemaking, but give it 2-3 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 15-20+ years.

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Amazingly supple, round and pure, smoothly polished to the point where the tannins almost disappear, but something is supporting the gorgeous blueberry, plum, mineral and subtle spice flavors to let them soar on and on through the extraordinarily long, fleshy finish. 1,000 cases made.

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Very polished now, seems like it won't get much better, though plenty left. I felt it was a very good, but not great bottle. Very nice balance, good fruit, lacking a tad on the finish.