Interview: Dominic Torzi
Interview by Adam Catford
Name:
Domenic Torzi
Age:
39 less 39 + 39 … what was that last number?
Where you currently make wine:
Torzi Matthews, Old Plains,
Where you’ve made wine in the past:
Torzi Matthews, Old Plains
Most significant wine you’ve ever drunk:
1990 Mt Edelstone
Could you describe this wine?
Ahhh Eden Valley
Wine you’re most proud of having been associated with the making of?
2002 Frost Dodger…Luv ya babe.
What wine that you have made has the most interesting story behind it – and what is that story?
Tim and I call it the Swear box Longhop Old Vine Grenache, it is the last wine made each year generally in April. Each vintage thus far has presented us with a few minor hiccups along the way, hottest April day in a century resulting in frayed tempers, dust storm with 60mph winds, winery full ferment under the carport, blow up the truck motor, got the forklift bogged; each resulting in much swearing, hence every time someone swears they drop a few bucks into the swear box for the end of vintage party …
Is there any wine you’ve been associated with the making of that, if you had your time again, you’d treat/make differently?
Not wine but balsamico…allowing my mother to keep an eye on my niece to keep an eye on father from over caramelising the freshly juiced Cabernet Gros.
In your opinion, which wine style/grape variety does Australia and New Zealand , respectively, do best?
Aus all reds and NZ all whites
Other than the wineries you have worked with, which Australian/NZ winery is best represented in your personal cellar?
Artisans of Barossa…luv ya’s
Favourite wine region (Australia):
Adelaide Plains
Favourite wine region (world-wide):
A Puglia (sister GI of Adelaide Plains)
Favourite movie:
All things Al Pacino
Desert-island food-wine match:
Spaghetti con Sangiovese con bella ragazza.
How do you take your coffee?
Double shot long cold latte
What do you most love about the wine industry?
Staying dirty
What do you most detest about the wine industry?
Staying clean
Any comments you would like to make in relation to the wine industry here or globally?
Need more hidden garages for the continuation of the unearthing individuals.
Many thanks, Adam.
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Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
I always wonder about using some of the more esoteric descriptors but after tasting this wine I thought “mmmm sarsaparilla” and on checking the official tasting note (for regional composition mainly) I see winemaker Peter Gago has used the same word. If it’s good enough for Gago then it’s good enough for me. You could get a song out of that for sure…
Something very nice to sniff here with aromas of blackcurrant, dark chocolate, violet and a minty mentholated lift. On the palate full bodied with strong tannin, pronounced acidity and excellent shape through the mouth. It has flavours of blackcurrant, sarsaparilla and some more meaty savoury characters with cedary oak well in the background. Long finish with a bit of acid poking out at the end. It’s all arms and legs at the moment but looks to be a super example of 407.
Other vintages : 2004, 2004, 2003, 1996
Tasted : Mar08Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $45
Drink : 2012 - 2024
Source : Winery Sample
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Zimmermann Wines “The Blue Grape” Shiraz 2005
I think I have the price right because yet again I have lost the bit of paper that came with the wine. Anyway, it’s from small winery located in the Willunga sub-region of McLaren Vale and is single vineyard, organically grown, hand picked and all that lot. I tasted this next to a Barossa shiraz (in and amongst other things) and that supple plummy richness and round mid-palate that typifies the region really stood out. This reminds me a bit of Wirra Wirra stylistically.
Rich and seductive with aromas of black fruit, plum, Xmas spices, aniseed and a little eucalyptus. On the palate full bodied, smooth and lush with velveteen tannins and flavours of plum, berries, milk chocolate, aniseed and spice. It’s balanced and very clean with a long sweet and spicy fruit after-taste. Scrumptious would be a good adjective to use, so scrumptious it is.
Tasted : Mar08Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $38
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2008 - 2016
Source : Winery Sample
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Dutschke GHR Four Vineyards Shiraz 2005
An excellent addition to the Dutschke range. I like this more than some of Dutschke’s higher priced wines from this vintage.
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Price : $25Drink : 2008 - 2013
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Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay 2007
I’m finally catching up and reviewing the Penfolds 2008 Bin releases now. Better late than never I suppose. This year the Bin 311 is “all Orange”, and it does not shine for me as much as last year’s Tumbarumba release. Perhaps too much skin and bones, although it could turn into something beautiful.
Fresh smelling with nectarine, mandarin, cucumber, almond and a little vanilla spice. On the palate light and airy with a slightly glossy texture and tight minerally acidity. It has nectarine, sour edged citrus fruit and greener flavours backed with subtle almond and vanilla oak. Good finish with a bit of an acid bite to close. Quite fine and delicate. Nice wine, and I like it, but don’t find it particularly exciting.
Tasted : Mar08Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : $40
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2009 - 2012
Source : Winery Sample
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Pirathon Shiraz 2006
The name “Pirathon” celebrates a famous punch up (known locally as the battle of Pirathon) that happened outside the Tanunda pub circa 2005AD (around 9.30PM) between Helen of Troy Kalleske and visiting celebrity Paris Hilton. The trouble started when the wily Hector (of Tulloch) claimed his one dollar coin was next in line for a go on the pool table but Troy’s mate Achilles (owner of the local kebab shop) would have none of it. Paris had kept a lazy eye on the dashing Hector for most of the evening, and in a show of support and quite possibly with the intention of blowing the froth off a couple with him later on, set her dog onto Achilles. Although small in stature, he was both plucky and smart, and went straight for Achillies’ heel. “Struth!”, yelped Achillies, “It bloody bit me.”..and after that is was on for young and old….
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Other vintages : 2005
Tasted : Mar08Alcohol : 15%
Price : $24
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2008 - 2016+
Source : Winery Sample
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Strong showing from Mr Riggs
Mr Riggs is a brand that made a splash when it first appeared a few years ago but – as much sub-consciously as anything – I always thought it would hit and run pretty fast, and disappear after a few vintages. I say this even though the wines have generally been very good. And well packaged. And reasonably priced. Maybe it’s just me, but the brand name itself just seemed to have gimmick written all over it.
Or it did. Now it doesn’t. It’s good to see that the brand is still alive and going strong. In terms of quality, the following wines are the strongest bunch I have seen under this label. You need a subscription to The Wine Front to see this part of the post
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Pewsey Vale Prima Riesling 2007
Prima puts me in mind of those little boxes of fruit juice that I used to take to school as a kiddy. Popper was the other one, which is also the sound that the highly fetching glass stopper makes when it comes out of this fruity beauty. This is the inaugural vintage of an early picked off-dry (22g residual sugar) style, and while according to at least one retailer, this resurgence of sweeter style Riesling could be confusing to all those people who are now just learning to trust their assurances that Riesling is dry, I say bugger them. And anyway, it gives the lazy idle shiftless wine sniffing pigs something useful to do…
Flowery and mineral at once with lime, mango and a little spice. On the palate an intense burst of sweet lime, mango and lemon pith that is snapped back into focus by crisp dry flinty acidity. The balance is perfect and the combination of sweet, dry and sour is both highly refreshing and almost irresistible. It’s off-dry really, or seems that way, the sweetness in no way obvious or sickly and the finish clean, dry and very long. A.W.E.S.O.M.-O!
Tasted : Mar08Alcohol : 9.5%
Price : $25
Closure : Glass Stopper
Drink : 2008 - 2022+
Source : Winery Sample
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Norton Estate “Arapiles Run” Shiraz 2005
It’s about 6km outside the Grampians GI but I’m popping it in anyway. Tastes like Grampians and I like it better than some of the bigger (and more expensive) names from the region (or not as the case may be). So there we have it. Just call me GI Joe. I know no boundaries.
Aromatic and packed with exotic spice it bursts with black cherry, blackberries, new leather and creamy vanilla oak. On the palate just above medium bodied with beautiful velvety tannins, balanced alcohol, clean acidity and a lush creamy texture. It offers sweet black cherry fruit, licorice, spice and vanilla and fairly ripples along the palate in a most seductive manner, closing with a long black fruit and spice aftertaste. It’s an absolute beauty and I strongly recommended it to fanciers of spicy Western Victorian Shiraz.
Tasted : Mar08Alcohol : 13.8%
Price : $35
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2008 - 2020
Source : Winery Sample
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Wedgetail Estate Chardonnay 2006
At this rate it won’t be too long before the Yarra Valley takes poll position as the most reviewed region on Winorama. Well that’s fine by me too because I like it a lot, and there’s lots more Yarra Valley action to come.
Quite savoury and refined with aromas of fig, creamy cashew, spice and subdued citrus and peach fruit. On the palate flinty and dry with sour edged fruit flavours of green pear and citrus, yeast lees and spiced nuts. Soft, lightly creamy and a little oxidative, but shot through with minerally acidity, the overall impression is textural and sophisticated rather than fruity. Finishes dry and flinty with good length. And if it makes any sense I like this even more than the score would indicate; it’s one of those wines you appreciate more with every sip.
Tasted : Mar08Alcohol : 13%
Price : $34
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2008 - 2012
Source : Winery Sample
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Next Double Take :
Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2007 - $33.99
