Torbreck RunRig 2022

100 Points - Andrew Caillard MW and Ken Gargett, WinePilot "Deep crimson. Intense dark plum, blackberry, liquorice, mocha/ espresso aromas with lifted star anise notes. Saturated dark plum, blackberry, apricot fruits, superb ultra-fine tannins and underlying roasted coffee/espresso mocha notes. Finishes gravelly and long with persistent dark berry fruits/ cedar nuances. Exceptional balance and complexity. Should develop brilliantly well. Drink 2028–2046."

98 Points - Erin Larkin "The 2022 RunRig had 2% Viognier added to the Syrah after barrel maturation, from the current vintage. I've clarified this with winemaker Ian Hongell, because my incorrect memory ran toward skins only. Glad I asked. Aromatically, the wine is so fresh and detailed; it hints at latent power and intense concentration, but it doesn't overbear on this point. On the palate, the wine has everything we could hope for—intense, balanced red fruit, a splay of ductile tannins and such a light fluffiness to the profile that I find it most appealing indeed. The discussion here today is regarding the comparison to the great 2021 vintage. It was a freak, out-of-the-box year that blessed producers with a spot-free growing season, good yields and excellent quality fruit. The wines, for the most part, will endure through the decades with grace and ease. The 2022s are tighter, fluffier, more fruit forward and, in my opinion, slightly more delicious, but over the long term, backing the 2021s to go the distance seems the blue-chip option. We can discuss this again in 20 years (2045) when that answer will have become more clear. In the words of Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast." I love this wine today. It's a superstar. 15.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax."

19++/20 Matthew Jukes "It seems improbable that RunRig should warrant a slightly lower score than Descendant, but I am only reporting what I tasted on the 28th of April 2025 at Clarette in London.  Descendant took to the stage with no hesitation, while RunRig was a tight ball of introspection.  What I admire most about this wine is that it simply doesn’t care what is happening around it.  It didn’t feel under any pressure to perform, and it didn’t.  While the other wines strive to win everyone over, 2022 RunRig remains completely nonplussed, supremely confident in its abilities and in no rush to reveal its class.  Of course, there is amazing potential here, and it is on the train, biding its time.  But when will it decide to get off the locomotive and get busy?  I just cannot tell you the answer to this question, but it won’t be this year or the next, and probably not the one after that, either.  Stay tuned."