Rockford, Basket Press Shiraz, Barossa Valley

NobleRottersSydney - Shiraz Barossa v Hunter (Glass Brasserie, Sydney) : {cork, 14.2%} [DavidM] Aging chocolate cake and black fruit, with a sweet oak overlay. This is top Barossa shiraz from central casting. Full-bodied, somewhat aging, a hint of volatility adding interest. Blackberry overriding blueberry fruit, well mature, with a rustic edge. Lowish faintly gritty tannins, medium acidity. Polished finish of about medium length, or a bit more. Lovely stuff. No need to keep, in my view, but should hold a …

2012 vintage

Tasted side-by-side with the Lindemans Limestone Ridge of the same vintage and this was the lesser wine. Lacked complexity and nuance. Very solid Big Barossa Shiraz.

2010 vintage

Loads of freshness at opening, only slowly improved over a few hours bar a slight oxidative (soy sauce) dip at around 1 hour. Med bodied, restrained but great concenration of dried plums, prunes, then savoury elements of cured meat, light smoke. Gentle, longlasting acidity that carries all the way to an incredible finish, gets more spiced gradually. Very fine dusty tannins around the tongue providing a transparent structure. Delicate, classy juice. Perfect for the occasion.

1995 vintage

concentrated and alcoholic. very smooth. a top quality wine that you can only drink one tablespoonful of

2010 vintage

Possibly compromised. A bit heavy, balsamic / fig notes.

2010 vintage

Glorious. Decanted and three hours to breathe. Marvellously integrated with an excellent balance of fruit and tannins harmoniously correlated. Enough fruit still left ion the palate to be interesting.

2010 vintage

This bottle is pristine, some staining evident on shoulder. Lively, bright, and fresh belying it’s 15 years. Just-ripe fruit and spice on the nose, some alcohol spirit evident but definitely not overly dominant. To taste, soft tannins, dark chocolate dominating with berry fruits following. Finishes long and delicate.

2010 vintage

Been a a couple of years since trying this vintage. It's started to loosen up now - on opening it has some brightness to it, versus previous experiences where it was very tightly wound. Found with time in the decanter and glass the body really came through. It's very smooth, dark fruits on the palate, and the acidity is well balanced. It's lovely to drink right now and will gain more character over the next decade.

2012 vintage

Very smooth and integrated wine. Jammy fruit in the nose and mouth. Tannins soft and integrated with a clean finish and moderate acidity. Probably never going to get better than it is now.

2010 vintage

Was delicious but getting a tad too light in flavour

2010 vintage

I don't write many reviews, but I just had to with this wine. Wow. I opened it about 20 minutes before I poured it, and as soon as we (4 winos) smelled it, we knew it was something special. The truffle and blackcurrant nose didn't jump at you, but slowly lifted out of the glass. The palate was slightly earthy, with plum notes and integrated tannins. Well developed and at its sweet spot to drink now.

2012 vintage

Had a bit of a funky green nose to start with, not quite what I was expecting up against a McLaren Vale Shiraz which had a bit more age on it. Over time the nose changed, bringing forward more fruit. I agree with some of the comments that personally I’d like to look at it again at 15 years of age. It’s still quite primary, however can see some of the elements beginning to reveal themselves.

2012 vintage

Needed a lot of time and air to open. Will be excellent in 10 years.

2010 vintage

Opened up nicely a couple of hours after decanting. Concentrated blueberries, spice and violets. Excellent balance, length, intensity and complexity.

2012 vintage

Drank at Rockford Lunch First release Colour med Ruby , pink edges and purples hues slight bricking 15/15 Nose med intensity, ripe darker fruit, blackcurrent, cherries, plum white pepper, quince coconut 28/30 Palate Med to full bodied, fresh alive fruit flavours , plenty of acid which is lifting the fruit, more vanilla than coconut, chocolate, liquorice, resolved tannins on the finish elegant 43/44 Overall as they say , a solid classic Shiraz, everything in spades, very hard to fault 10/11

2010 vintage

Cork, 14.5% alc. Dark ruby red; cloudy. Seductive nose; luxurious glossy fruit and complimentary nutty oak, yet not overcooked. Blackberry, star anise, pan juices, violet, vanilla and coal. Initially reserved on the palate, with a soft caressing entry, the wine then builds on the mid-palate and fans out across the back, finishing long with beautifully persistent yet pliable, sandy tannins. Tobacco flavour builds with airing.

2010 vintage

Glass: Zalto Bordeaux Popped and poured, drunk over three days. Clear, deep ruby-garnet with little tawny rim. Clean, medium+ intense, developing nose. Fine tobacco, spices, violets, blueberry, herbs, speck, raw meat. Deep and very dense. Dry, high well integrated acidity. 14,5% abv, well balanced by the acidity and only noticeable at the last bit of the finish. Medium+ round and ripe tannin. Full bodied without being fat. On the palate very spicy/umami, herbaceous (herbs de provance), Amarena Cherry, some lactic …

2010 vintage

Excellent drinking… two hours decantered in a magnum decanter.

2010 vintage

Yum

2012 vintage

I got some red fruits on the palate as well from this bottle. Approachable now but for me it needs more time. Restrained power and well balanced.

2012 vintage

Amazing bottle with Greg. What a treat

1995 vintage

Dark red blue black opaque colour, full nose of blackberries spice and herbs, another big mouthful but not overblown, good balance and acidity, this is about ready but will go on awhile, one of the best Aus Shiraz bottles I have drunk, starting to get a bit pricey now.

2010 vintage

Opened the bottle we tasted through Coravin earlier on Mint, Chocolate, truffle still and a bit earthy and hummus, but the wine is bigger in the palate, with loads of ripe fruits, big length, some sour chocolaty ending... great young wine :)

2012 vintage

Leave it for another 5/10 at least Nose is ripe, fat, dark berries driven, intense and truffley, it shows the start of a bright future ! Cab style, but with more fruit and spice, truffle, mint, eucalyptus, and cassis, lots of it ... integrated wood, but still shows :) palate is huge, way too much right now, it really needs to setlle down, sided to the Crozes-Hermitage Hermitage it is bigger but not better at this very moment ... loads …

2012 vintage

First Wednesday Wine Club (Napoli in Bocca, Haberfield) : Served Blind. Controlled, concentrated red berries especially strawberry, a little cream, vanilla/caramel - plenty of oak, ripe nose. Juicy, ripe alcohol is present, red berries, polished oak here as well, chalky, woody drying tannins - positively chewy and these close down the palate. I guessed Grenache or GSM blend, South Australia, 2012

2010 vintage

Medium ruby with slight browning at the rim. Early on the nose was earthy, with pepper, and muted dark cherry. More red berry aromas appeared after significant time in the glass. Medium bodied with very fine tannin. On the palate, sour cherry, berries, but very closed initially. Nice length. Needed a lot of time to open up, has the acidity to carry it for many more years.

2012 vintage

Opaque red/black, some bricking at the rim. On the nose, dark red fruits, plum. Body is medium-full, and there's unresolved fine tannins. The red fruits and plum comes through on the palate. The finish is quite long. Acidity suggests a long life ahead.

2010 vintage

Just entering its drinking window. Superbly balanced wine with lovely fruit. Great Length. It has at least another 5 to 10 years of enjoyment ahead of it

2010 vintage

Classic Barossa shiraz notes. Full bodied. Still too big and too young, needs another 5+ years but will be worth the wait.

2010 vintage

A lite bodied Shiraz; drinking beautifully after 9 years. Should develop further.

2012 vintage

Glass: Riedel Vinum Syrah Popped and poured, drunk over three days. Clear, deep ruby-garnet with little tawny rim. Clean, medium+ intense, developing nose. Fine tobacco, spices, violets, blueberry, herbs, speck, raw meat. Deep and very dense. Dry, high well integrated acidity. 14,5% abv, well balanced by the acidity and only noticeable at the last bit of the finish. Medium+ round and ripe tannin. Full bodied without being fat. On the palate very spicy/umami, herbaceous (herbs de provance), Amarena Cherry, some …

2010 vintage

Interesting to taste along a 2010. This was lighter body but very balanced. A product of vintage maybe? Very enjoyable.

2012 vintage

Quite dark and bold. Tasted alongside a 2012 BP. This had more body and a bolder, intense flavour. Very enjoyable.

2010 vintage

First of my bottles, lovely nose, some secondary characters just starting to show, red fruit, powdery tannins, leather but also bright and fresh, finish goes on and on

2012 vintage

Beautiful. So well balanced.

2012 vintage

Appearance: dark ruby/purple. Nose: classic Barossa shiraz with intensity - blackberry, plum, mocha/chocolate, spice and oak. Palate: full bodied, concentrated, but the balance and quality is apparent. I had this one too young - this needs a lot more time (5+ years for me) and it will develop very nicely. 2012 seems to have been a huge improvement on the 2011 vintage, with more depth and intensity.

2012 vintage

Requires some decanting for sure. Presents a bit tar, toast and dark cherry notes initially. It starts to open up in 2.5hrs. Some blueberry, sandlewood and chocolate come through. Flavours are really well defined on the palate with some dark chocolate, umami and savoury tannins and long, persistent, lingering finish. Outstanding wine! Top quality wines and better wait for another 3-5 years.

2012 vintage

Tasted alongside with the Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet from the same vintage. I preferred the shiraz. Drinking well now but will there is no rush.

2012 vintage

Decanted for about 3 hours. Off balance and a little thin. Not sure where the fruit went, too much acidity. Could be an off bottle (oxidized?) but I’ve had several vintages now at 10 years old and this is usually what we get. I would say better at 5-7 yrs or wait 15. No benefit in drinking now, will hopefully get better.

2010 vintage

Decanted 2 hours. Pretty much Medium bodied. Very good/balanced ripeness of fruit, detecting a slight savoury note to the wine also, with black berry, plum, dark cherries, a touch of vanilla, and what I call the signature Rockford 'charry' oak in the back ground. The acidity is providing some youthful freshness to the wine. Just a touch of drying tannin on the end of a nice long finish. A very good wine. Will continue to develop over the next 5-10 …

2010 vintage

Took 1.5 hours in the decanter. Plum, Violet/floral nose, Black pepper, Vanilla, full bodied, medium tannin long pleasant finish

2010 vintage

Rockford 2010 Clear medium red with a dash of purple. Cork even and 1/8 up. Still quite tight, but the oak has absorbed right in to the wine leavings lovely medium weight and pure Barossa. A touch rustic, but that is the style. Crunchy and fresh black fruit, red earth and pepper flavours balanced with fresh acidity. It has good length, a touch of alcohol noticeable but does not detract for me but others commented and I can see it. …

2010 vintage

On the nose, a spicy, bell pepper note. Ever so slightly green, but not unpleasant, and inviting. On the palate, Fleshy plum fruit, with more pepper. Tannins are muted but elegant, alcohol is high but in balance with weight of fruit. Unmistakably a full bodied Shiraz, but with elegance. Acidity still high so this will go further. Still primary/secondary so I’d say this has got 5-10 years development if you want more tertiary flavours. But drinking beautifully now

2010 vintage

Let it sit in a decanter for 2-3 hours if having a look at age 10. Felt a little porty and flabby on opening, then morphed in to a lovely medium to full bodied dry Barossa with a hint of leather starting to emerge but still plenty of vital red fruit, acidity, and drying tannins. Now to 10 years depending on how you like your BP.

2010 vintage

Still pretty primary, but nice notes of black cherries, blackberries, elderberries, some violets, also some caramel, smoke, leather and meat. It‘s medium-full bodied, with medium-high acidity and medium+ tannin that is very good quality. Good length. Another winner from Rockford. While I am more used to drink these wines at age 10-20, this shows some good stuffing and maybe note the complexity of the very best vintages but still very good potential.

2012 vintage

Dark ruby in the glass. Opens up after 30 minutes of decanting to notes of ripe blackberry, plum, wet soil, cedar and some soft spice tones. Plump on the palate, very open, but not even close to developed. The bright acidity manages to crawl into the spotlight even with high levels of alcohol and fruit richness trying to dominate. Firm, ripe tannins. Sweet spice, long finish. A very well-made wine that possesses a judicious dosage of oak and moderate depth.

2012 vintage

Praelum - AUSSIE (Praelum Wine Bistro) : Cloves, grass, paprika, coffee, and smoke on nose. While pretty strong and tannic, has a distinct minty feel over the cherries and chocolates

2012 vintage

Infanticide. Come back in ten years: the embryonic parts are al there: hints of damson, cocoa and earth all hiding amongst the fresh acidity and remnants of primary fruit.

2012 vintage

I adored this. Yes, it's a big wine but it's surprisingly elegant. The tannin are so silky. Lots of fresh cherriesh and maraschino cherry fruit, with figgy, spicy notes like cinnamon with this amazing acidity that keeps lifting it all up. On the finish some nutty tawny port type notes. I think there's a little VA tucked away here too but nothing overt. This is the best Rockford I've ever had and up there with the best Australian shiraz I've …

2012 vintage

Good, but too young!

2012 vintage

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Rockford, Basket Press Shiraz, Barossa Valley

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