Mango, kero, green apple, wax and a musky/floral spice that was quite appealing! The ripeness on the nose does carry across to the weight on the palate but doesn't feel at all broad and the balance with moderate acidity is good. Interesting wine that is already drinking well.
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Spearmint, meat, earth, roses and chocolate aromas. The palate is fully resolved and it isn't quite as interesting as the nose but was still drinking really nicely. Picking it apart did show some acid coming over the top of where the fruit once was, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment at all.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
2001 disgorgement. Spice, meat, redcurrant, some leather as well. Sweet red fruits on the palate with good acidity cleansing. Not a style I adore but does have some appeal.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Rhubarb, chocolate, licorice, mint and blackberry. Has a superb lift on the palate with fresh red fruit and acidity melding superbly well. Structured and a wine of depth but also finesse. Has begun to strut its stuff, this has plenty of time left but it is an all-time great Basket Press for me.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Much, much better than a bottle I had around 2005 which showed no balance or style. Charcoal, graphite, floral, earth and mint. Acidity does a great job of keeping the rich fruit in check. Doesn't have the depth or complexity of the 1996 (and I don't think it'll get there) but it still holds its own. Drink now and over next 5 years.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Blackberry, chocolate, floral, graphite and a jammy overtone that I didn't mind in this case. The palate shows the same ripeness of fruit but it always pulls back in time to keep from being over the top. Balance is provided through the fine tannin structure and that should give this a chance in the future. I probably slightly preferred the 2006 next to it but that is not an easy decision now - maybe in 10 years it will be different!
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Licorice, mint, tar, black tea and blackcurrant aromas. Shows very youthfully on the palate, but it has great grip through the tannins and the acidity gives it a surge of freshness. There is still a ripe overlay to this but it seems more red fruited than the black fruits of the 2004 and I think it makes it seem more restrained. I just preferred this to the '04, but I could see the potential for that being reversed with time.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Meaty, smoky bacon, spearmint and a touch of spirity alcohol. Fresh on the palate with that meaty savouriness in the background. Might alert some members of the brett police but I didn't find it off-putting.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Pepper and plenty of spice, lifted red berries and floral notes. The fruit and palate are quite soft and plush, the spice gives it a lift for now but I don't know if it has the acid/structure for very long term drinking. Great for now.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Aromatically shy at first, it did open up with time to show cherry, stalk, menthol, musky spice but also so alcohol heat. The palate has some plushness in contrast to the nose. It has high acid and grip, it just all feels a bit disjointed right now.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Violet, raspberry, blackcurrant and a slight mocha note. Really young but not unapproachable, mixed in with the vibrant fruit is a sense of tightness and overall balance. Needs time to show its best.
Lychee, apricot, orange and spice. Rich nose and this carries to the palate with an intensity and viscous mouthfeel. Good, not great but I have another bottle that I'll try to wait and see with.
2004 Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Altenburg Riesling 91 Points
Germany, Pfalz
Mango, kero, green apple, wax and a musky/floral spice that was quite appealing! The ripeness on the nose does carry across to the weight on the palate but doesn't feel at all broad and the balance with moderate acidity is good. Interesting wine that is already drinking well.
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1969 Redman Claret 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Spearmint, meat, earth, roses and chocolate aromas. The palate is fully resolved and it isn't quite as interesting as the nose but was still drinking really nicely. Picking it apart did show some acid coming over the top of where the fruit once was, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment at all.
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NV Rockford Black Shiraz 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
2001 disgorgement. Spice, meat, redcurrant, some leather as well. Sweet red fruits on the palate with good acidity cleansing. Not a style I adore but does have some appeal.
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1996 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press 93 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Rhubarb, chocolate, licorice, mint and blackberry. Has a superb lift on the palate with fresh red fruit and acidity melding superbly well. Structured and a wine of depth but also finesse. Has begun to strut its stuff, this has plenty of time left but it is an all-time great Basket Press for me.
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1997 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Much, much better than a bottle I had around 2005 which showed no balance or style. Charcoal, graphite, floral, earth and mint. Acidity does a great job of keeping the rich fruit in check. Doesn't have the depth or complexity of the 1996 (and I don't think it'll get there) but it still holds its own. Drink now and over next 5 years.
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2004 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press 91 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Blackberry, chocolate, floral, graphite and a jammy overtone that I didn't mind in this case. The palate shows the same ripeness of fruit but it always pulls back in time to keep from being over the top. Balance is provided through the fine tannin structure and that should give this a chance in the future. I probably slightly preferred the 2006 next to it but that is not an easy decision now - maybe in 10 years it will be different!
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2006 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press 92 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Licorice, mint, tar, black tea and blackcurrant aromas. Shows very youthfully on the palate, but it has great grip through the tannins and the acidity gives it a surge of freshness. There is still a ripe overlay to this but it seems more red fruited than the black fruits of the 2004 and I think it makes it seem more restrained. I just preferred this to the '04, but I could see the potential for that being reversed with time.
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1997 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Meaty, smoky bacon, spearmint and a touch of spirity alcohol. Fresh on the palate with that meaty savouriness in the background. Might alert some members of the brett police but I didn't find it off-putting.
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2008 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press 91 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Pepper and plenty of spice, lifted red berries and floral notes. The fruit and palate are quite soft and plush, the spice gives it a lift for now but I don't know if it has the acid/structure for very long term drinking. Great for now.
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2009 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press 88 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Aromatically shy at first, it did open up with time to show cherry, stalk, menthol, musky spice but also so alcohol heat. The palate has some plushness in contrast to the nose. It has high acid and grip, it just all feels a bit disjointed right now.
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2010 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press 91 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Violet, raspberry, blackcurrant and a slight mocha note. Really young but not unapproachable, mixed in with the vibrant fruit is a sense of tightness and overall balance. Needs time to show its best.
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2004 Château Doisy-Daëne 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Lychee, apricot, orange and spice. Rich nose and this carries to the palate with an intensity and viscous mouthfeel. Good, not great but I have another bottle that I'll try to wait and see with.
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