A Bad Boy Barossa Shiraz with a pedigree

Don't let the bad taste in the previous owners mouth put you off!

Here's an extract of the notes that came from the Sterling September Pre-auction tasting. Worth a look and believe me cheap at the price! For your education, have a look at our thoughts on the Neck Oil too!

Great expectations: The Judgment on The Torbreck Neck Oil and the Secret Places

Controversial? These wines have a reputation that would made the Marquis De Sade blush.

You all know these wines as the rip offs that skinned too many poor bunnies who believed all the hype and lies being fed by wine investment companies like Heritage.

I was tempted not to review these wines, not wanting to talk them down and add another cruel cut to the long suffering vendor who has lost money hand over fist. There is good news, maybe even a silver lining.

Torbreck Neck Oil Shiraz Grenache 2002 Barossa Valley

Fresh opened this number looked rough and disjointed. Some good fruit and clean finish but a little twisted.

Maybe a victim of cold cellaring, this wine looked Oh so much better the next day. Clean, fresh, good fruit and reasonable balance. This may not be the wine the Torbreck team want to be remembered for (NB technically it is made by Torbreck not under the Torbreck label) BUT it is a smart little drink that will please many who want a good BBQ companion or every night crowd pleaser.

Secret Places Shiraz 2001 Barossa Valley (Kevin Mitchell / Kilikanoon)

This wine sports a label featuring a disturbing John Olsen portrait of a wine drinker who looks like he has just met with Hannibal (the Cannibal) Lecter. The back label tells you that the wine was created by Kevin Mitchell of Kilikanoon from grapes that have come from "Secret Places in the Barossa Valley"

Don't let the name and the Secret Place implication put you off. This is a decent wine with some good primary fruit and structure. Funny enough this bottle looked a lot better the second day too. More freezing cellar syndrome? This isn't for everyone, but it is cheap and suits the “everyday wine” profile. In fact, I am sitting here enjoying good mouth feel and a persistent flavor that sits in the gums for a long time: Maybe that is the Kilikanoon quality signature.

Mr Mitchell sure knows how to make premium Shiraz!

September 2009