The Laird
2018 The Laird
The Laird (formerly Gnadenfrei) Vineyard was first planted in 1958 on a southwest facing slope in the tiny hamlet of Marananga in the Barossa Valley. Torbreck’s first harvest of Shiraz from this highly coveted plot came in 2005.
With a combination of red and black clays over an ironstone base intermingled with gravel and quartz, the red and black soils produce two distinctly different wines that complement each other when blended.
The Eastern block of red clay offers up power and intensity with robust black fruit and tannins due to higher sunlight hours and later harvesting. The setting sun shades the Western side of this single vineyard and the black cracking clays offer a more fragrant, elegant wine complemented by spice and earthy notes.
Handpicked in two separate parcels up to a few weeks apart depending on vintage conditions, the fruit is immediately transported to the winery to be gently de-stemmed into open top fermenters. It is then carefully nurtured for 6-7 days on skins with pump overs occurring twice daily, varying in duration and intensity. When primary fermentation is almost complete, the wine is drawn off from the skins and the must is gently basket pressed for 8 hours.
The wine remains in a stainless steel tank until primary fermentation is completed. It is then run directly into new French barriques coopered by Dominique Laurent, where it spends 36 months in temperature-controlled conditions. Once the oak and the wine have melded perfectly, the wine is blended and bottled without the use of filtration or fining. Finally, it is matured in the bottle for a further 24 months before release.
Accolades
Only ten vintages of The Laird have been produced since the inaugural 2005 vintage.
Over this time, the wine has become a favourite of wine collectors the world over, and has been fortunate to have received the highest accolades from the international wine trade and media. This includes receiving a perfect 100 points three times from Robert Parker's 'The Wine Advocate' for the 2005, 2008 and 2012 vintages.
The 2018 Vintage
An above average winter rainfall led into a below average spring and summer rainfall, producing small bunches and small berries, leading to a reduced yield. Quality was certainly high, particular amongst our red varieties of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro. 2018 wines will be remembered for their impressive colour, structure and longevity.
An outstanding vintage producing bright, aromatic whites and intense, well-structured reds.
2018 The Laird
Eminently red-fruited in the mouth, this 2018 The Laird is reflective of the 2018 season, in that it is pure, fresh, laden with blood plum, saturated in red berries and framed by savory, exotically spiced black tannins. The oak, while a prominent feature of the wine, supports the fruit at all times and assists in extending the flavor through the finish. Thick in the mouth, yet still fresh, there is a moreish quality to this wine. I love it.
99 points Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
These are wines that fans of any and every wine style on earth must taste. If you are an existing Torbreck acolyte, you will be amazed at this continuing legend, refining and re-inventing its ever-changing story. If you think that Barossa whites and reds might not be your sort of ‘thing’, think again.
...the absurdly deep and never-ending joy that this sublime wine imbues in its taster.
20++/20 Matthew Jukes
Deep crimson with aubergine core. Luxurious and alluring black and blue fruits such as and mulberry, blackberry, black cherry and cassis fill the bouquet, complimented by savoury notes of tobacco leaf, garrigue, tar, bay leaf, vanilla pod and sarsaparilla root.
The wine has wonderful complexity and charm that excites the senses. Alluring spices such as cinnamon and liquorice meld further into the complexing amalgam of flavours. The palate possesses great fruit depth and a degree of elegance displaying wonderful harmony and posture with firm tight tannins holding the fruit and the structure together.
Not for the faint hearted it’s a wine that needs time to offer its best. A beauty that will live for generations.
The 2018 The Laird will reward those with patience. Enjoy from 2025 and cellar to 2050+.
Download The Laird 2018 Tasting Note
Purchase 2018 The Laird
| 750ml Bottle | $800 |
| 1500ml Magnum | $1,760 |
| 3lt Double Magnum | $3,480 |
| 6lt Imperial | $7,680 |
| 18lt Solomon | $23,740 |
| 27lt Goliath | $37,060 |
Laird Annual Allocations
Never miss an annual release of The Laird by securing your annual allocation
- 1 Bottle Allocation $800
- 3 Bottle Annual Allocation $2400
- 6 Bottle Annual Allocation $4800
Subscribe to an Annual Allocation of The Laird
Contact Torbreck Cellar Door for large format purchasing, and shipping to international locations
Ph: +61 8 8568 8123
E: theclan@torbreck.com