Description

One of Australia’s greatest Estates. Crafting wines from their Barossa base that reflect the region and its philosophy. They are best known for their old school and long lived Rockford Basket Press and their majestic ‘Black’ Sparkling Shiraz. But to focus exclusively on those would diminish the quality of the whole range of authentically and proudly Barossan wines.

A hotter year 2003 was a success for Rockford making a richer wine that is great for earlier drinking. But earlier drinking for Basket Press means 10- 20 years rather than 25 plus. Grab yourself some flat iron steak and a good glass and you’ll be in heaven. I tasted this wine at my Rockford Basket Press Dinner in 2018. My notes read as follows: The boof-head. 2003 was hot and dry. In a series of hot and dry vintages it was one that stood out. It was looking its age and drinking really well right now. I will open the rest of my 2003s this year. I don’t think they are going to improve and I want to enjoy them now as I would hate to lose the fruit it has right now.

 Barossa Valley 

One of the major wine regions or Australia. Known for making great Shiraz by any standard as well as Grenache, Mataro, Semillon and much more. There has been a lot of work finding the sub-regions that excel for each style and variety planted.

Shiraz/Syrah 

A bit of a chameleon, Shiraz can change how it looks depending on terroir and/or wine maker influence. The Syrah based wines of Northern Rhone are dry and austere while the Shiraz of Barossa is rich and fleshy. A variety that lends itself to long aging but can be drunk at any time of its evolution.