A blend of 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier aged in second fill barriques (all French oak), the 2016 Descendant features lovely floral aromas, accented by blueberries and a hint of apricot. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and creamy in texture, hugely mouthfilling yet somehow without excessive weight or heat, while the plush, velvety finish adds a hint of dark chocolate. It's a terrific success at a still-reasonable price for the quality.

Distinctive and effusive, brimming with violet, white pepper, chai tea and peppermint oil notes, set on a dense frame, with thick tannins. Details of dark chocolatecovered coffee bean, cigar box and minerality gain momentum on the long, expressive finish. Shiraz and Viognier. Drink now through 2034. 73 cases imported.

Opaque ruby. Heady, oak-spiced aromas of dark berry preserves, espresso, incense and vanilla pick up a hint of olive with air. Stains the palate with concentrated cassis, bitter cherry and mocha flavors that turn sweeter and livelier through the mid-palate. Plays richness off of energy with a deft hand and finishes extremely long and spicy, with resonating blue fruit character and gently chewy tannins that come on late.

Descendant comes in at nearly half the price of Torbreck's top wine, Runrig, and is actually a more characterful wine, full of earthy meaty funk that makes it less polished but overall more interesting than Runrig. Rich and extroverted, it leads with raspberry jam and roasted beet aromas along with spicy cedary oak, damp earth, mint and florals, thanks, perhaps to being crushed with Viognier skins. The palate displays quite a lot of spicy oak along with tight chalky tannins and loads of ripe fruit and secondary characters. Drink 2021-2034.