Wilco (The Album) & 2008 Torbreck Cuvee Juveniles

2008 Torbreck Cuvee Juveniles & Wilco (The Album)

I came home early tonight. Was woken by fucking idiots with fireworks, and a manic dog breaking down the back door. I tried as hard as I possibly could to go back to sleep, without any luck. Despite my raspy throat, and sore head, I decided to capitalise on my awakeness, and non-wakeup requirements tomorrow.

Two perplexing subjects tonight. A wine by Dave Powell, of Torbreck fame, and a new album by Wilco. Perplexing because I’m never quite sure where I stand with either subject. One day I’m convinced either one is simply brilliant, the next I’m convinced they’re deceptive, and little more than ho-hum. I don’t mind the variety, and I guess it shows I’m constantly thinking about things, instead of being completely stuck in my ways.

Wilco (The Album) can be summed up in a few words. I’m onto my third listen tonight, and it’s not improving with more wine, or more volume. It’s a collection of very solid songs, that hums along with ease, however, it fails to excite. I’d liken it to a statesman, or a fairlane, nice car sure, will get you from a to b with a smidge more style than average joe, but that’s about it.

Track #3, “One Wing” shows moments of glory,  with a delicately structured and enticing intro, that starts with gentle strums and expressive, emotive vocals, building into assertive drum snaps, all incredibly enticing, more about what it’s not doing, or what it may be leading into than what it’s actually doing. However, that’s about as far as it goes, such a promising build up doesn’t really deliver much more than a solid pop song. Frustrating indeed.

Track #4 is probably the album’s highlight. You and I, a gorgeous duet! As heard below

There, I conclude my brief thoughts about Wilco (The Album). If you’re a fan of Wilco, it’ll be enough to keep you amused, if you’re not, check out Wilco’s epic Sky Blue Sky album. Who knows, I will probably wake up tomorrow and adore this album. Then be ho hum about it again on Monday. A classic example of why Wilco is a very good band, but in my book, not a great one.

Now, onto the other subject.. Another, confusing one. Torbreck & Dave Powell.. I’m not sure if he’s a genius, rip-off merchant, or a masquerading also-ran. Wines like this cause the confusion.

2008 Torbreck Cuvee Juveniles – Barossa Valley

Produced from Barossa Valley Old Vine Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro, without the use of any oak. This stuff shows a really bright, lively, vibrant deep purple colour, with bright crimson hue. On the nose, blackberry, raspberry, plum, chocolate, espresso, violets, pepper and allspice intermingle to create a wonderful whiff. It really does smell lovely, so enticing. The palate bright and fresh, and delivers the ripe fruit flavours exceptionally well. It’s erring on the side of a lightweight, but that’s to be expected on account of the absense of oak, but it’s made up for by the concentration and intensity of flavours, which mirror the nose to perfection, the only addition to the palate that didn’t really appear on the nose was a good lick of fresh darrell lea liquorice, and a sort of jubey character, but not an excessively sweet or confectioned kind of jube. The fruit tannins are ripe, and very subtle – definately there, but very fine, and non-obtrusive. The aftertaste is exceptionally long, and shows sour cherry/kirsch, above blackberry, liquorice, raspberry and pepper.  The acidity keeps things fresh, and keeps the flavours going on and on. This can’t rely on wood tannin for structure, so the acidity delivering fractionally sour fruit characters I can accept. 14.5% Alc. 2.5, 7, 9. 18.5/20.

Reading my notes above, and taking note that the bottle is now empty, I obviously love the stuff. I think what troubles me is the sort of wine that I could be buying for the $30 investment that this stuff commands. If only the marketing department at Torbreck humoured me by saying it came from 80+ year old vines, and the yields were less than a ton to the acre, it would help ease the pain. I’d love to show this wine to any narrow minded fuck who thinks Australian wine is one-dimenisonal and over-alcoholic. It’s simply gorgeous stuff, but not something I’d be buying too often, if nothing else, to save my liver!