This was on top form and absolutely delicious. Complex and refined nose of blackberry, blueberries, cherries with a lovely violet led floral character. Palate was silky smooth, with pure red and blue fruits and a hint of earth and smoky tobacco. Age has turned this into a beautifully balanced, complex and refined example of what Barossa can offer.
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Aussie Night 2.0 (Buellton, CA): A touch bruised, showing heat and leaving the wine jammy. Sweet red fruit, with plenty of oak. A bit of balsamic. I love this bottling but this was not a great example.
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Stunning big Australian Shiraz from Rockford: It is a shining jewel among its country fellows. Licorice nose . Long black pepper spicy palate . Well balanced and will still drink well in next few years
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Last bottle of the purchase, and think it’s over the hill. All secondary characteristics on the nose - tobacco, earthy. Tannins gone, but no real length.
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On first opening, wasn't much fruit and had acidity, then evolved to a more earthy nose. After 45 minutes back to more fruit. Big - it's 14.8%, not colouring on the rim. Bramble black Fruits. Spices, white pepper,
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Had over 2 nights - mostly drank with Work colleagues over Italian. Aussie style big Shiraz. Lots of leathery tones, pitch black, some of the new oak coming through. Tannins there but not much acidity. Whilst this is a big brand not sure if it's my style.
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Big Shiraz, though not as big as the Torbreck from the other week. Aging well, a little surprised as thought the 03s would age swiftly. Unfortunately was a little sick with a sore throat so notes not great - but still primary fruit there of black fruits, with not as much of secondary leather tobacco.
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Much better on the second night. Really needed time for the big raisin and petrol fumes to subside! Once the sweetness subsided, coffee, cinnamon, chocolate, forest and more were noticeable in a restrained way. Really just a hint of cherry and black fruit, reminds me of being submerged in a comfortable wood panelled study. It got longer as it went.
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Classic Basket Press nose of licorice with aged funky characters. Licorice and anise with dark fruits on the palate with a long finish. Plenty of time left.
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Appearance: Bright and clear, this wine is of deep ruby color, with legs. Nose: Clean, the nose shows medium (+) intensity aromas of black fruit such as blackberry, dark cherries, pungent spice of liquorice and anise, oak notes of cedar and charred wood, mineral notes of rubber, maturity notes of tobacco. The wine is developing. Palate: Dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannin of ripe but smooth texture, the wine has high alcohol and is of medium (+) body with medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit such as blackberry and dark cherries, oak notes of cedar and vanilla, pungent spice of liquorice and black pepper. The wine has a long finish. Conclusion: Very good quality Barossa Valley Shiraz, with an intense and complex nose showing good typical varietal characters, the wine has a robust structure, with good tannin providing the framework to build on the concentrated palate, but overall still possessing the balance and elegance. Despite the high alcohol level the wine was not warming in any way. An exceptionally long length accompanies, this wine is ready to drink now though can benefit from further ageing of another 3-5 years.
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Last bottle of '03. I think this wine is in its sweet spot right now for drinking but enough tannins around my teeth to suggest it will go for another 5 years with adequate cellaring. 14.8% alcohol but not hot at all, with a big glycerin look and weight in the glass. Color is still very dark red/black. On the nose licorice, dark cherries, blackberry, raisin, anise, with a little candy and an overall "aged" and inviting smell. Taste consistent with nose: bing cherries, currants, quite juicy without being overly sweet. Finish lasts 60 sec+. While this wine would be considered fruit forward by most, it ISN'T a fruit bomb like so many Aussie wines. The structure and intrigue of this classy wine compared to many of its brawny brothers and sisters is why I continue to buy Rockford and have several vintages in my cellar.
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Intriguing wine. Loads of licorice and anise. Finely constructed. Fine to drink but I suspect it's still too early for this wine to mellow out further and show what it can really do. I've one bottle left and will think about trying it in 4-5 years.
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Pop-n-pour. Had this at Daniel and Tamara's house alongside a '05 Greenock Creek Seven Acre Shiraz. Very different in styles but hard to separate them points wise. Not surprising this wine was a lot more fruit driven and medium to full bodied. It had lovely soft tannins and generous red fruits.
While it is drinking pretty well now it will go another 10 years easy!
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The nose displays ripe fruit and hickory,cedar, tobacco, spicy aromas. Palate is full-bodied with good length. Nice tannins. Nice shiraz in the old style.
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A nose that is jam packed with sweet, ripe fruit. Blackcurrant, anise/liquorice, some background vanilla oak and blueberry muffins was an aroma descriptor that I particularly liked. More intense, sweet fruit on the palate that I think will appeal to lovers of the richly fruited Barossa style. Nice length, but just a bit too ripe for my personal liking.
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12/1/2023 - NoelB Likes this wine: 93 Points
a tad old
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11/1/2022 - Hendmo Likes this wine: 96 Points
This was on top form and absolutely delicious. Complex and refined nose of blackberry, blueberries, cherries with a lovely violet led floral character. Palate was silky smooth, with pure red and blue fruits and a hint of earth and smoky tobacco. Age has turned this into a beautifully balanced, complex and refined example of what Barossa can offer.
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8/14/2022 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 91 Points
Aussie Night 2.0 (Buellton, CA): A touch bruised, showing heat and leaving the wine jammy. Sweet red fruit, with plenty of oak. A bit of balsamic. I love this bottling but this was not a great example.
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10/15/2021 - browney237@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fabulous wine - l
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6/26/2021 - dada99 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Delicious -worth the wait
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1/1/2021 - Rainbow88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stunning big Australian Shiraz from Rockford: It is a shining jewel among its country fellows. Licorice nose . Long black pepper spicy palate . Well balanced and will still drink well in next few years
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9/20/2020 - GregK59 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Third of six and still in great shape. Classic liquorice spicy nose and long spicy palate with just a touch of alchoholic heat. Still going strong.
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1/1/2020 - chadslater Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Last bottle of the purchase, and think it’s over the hill. All secondary characteristics on the nose - tobacco, earthy. Tannins gone, but no real length.
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4/16/2019 - Paulo_Stanko Likes this wine: 97 Points
Amazing.... in perfect drinking window
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9/8/2018 - Dhslau Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank alongside (blinded) vs. Wolf Blass Platinum label and Wynn's Michael of the same vintage. This one rocks! And voted best amongst 6 mates.
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1/1/2018 - Dazzle wrote: 85 Points
Lost vibrancy and depth of flavour
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5/24/2017 - chadslater wrote: 89 Points
On first opening, wasn't much fruit and had acidity, then evolved to a more earthy nose. After 45 minutes back to more fruit. Big - it's 14.8%, not colouring on the rim. Bramble black Fruits. Spices, white pepper,
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1/3/2017 - mongo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic wine, outshone a 96 hill of grace that we had on the same night. Now perfect time for drinking.
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7/1/2016 - chadslater wrote: 91 Points
Had over 2 nights - mostly drank with Work colleagues over Italian. Aussie style big Shiraz. Lots of leathery tones, pitch black, some of the new oak coming through. Tannins there but not much acidity. Whilst this is a big brand not sure if it's my style.
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3/6/2016 - chadslater wrote: 89 Points
Tannins soft, big fruit, some tobacco notes coming through. Had with BBQ steak. Ok to good, not great
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2/19/2016 - chadslater wrote: 93 Points
Big Shiraz, though not as big as the Torbreck from the other week. Aging well, a little surprised as thought the 03s would age swiftly. Unfortunately was a little sick with a sore throat so notes not great - but still primary fruit there of black fruits, with not as much of secondary leather tobacco.
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1/10/2016 - harrylime Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better on the second night. Really needed time for the big raisin and petrol fumes to subside! Once the sweetness subsided, coffee, cinnamon, chocolate, forest and more were noticeable in a restrained way. Really just a hint of cherry and black fruit, reminds me of being submerged in a comfortable wood panelled study. It got longer as it went.
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9/8/2015 - GregK59 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic Basket Press nose of licorice with aged funky characters. Licorice and anise with dark fruits on the palate with a long finish. Plenty of time left.
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9/6/2015 - antkorbel wrote: flawed
Possibly heat affected. Thin and with the acid poking out making it drinkable but only just. Shame.
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7/29/2015 - harris.pac@gmail.com wrote: flawed
Corked
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10/31/2014 - chbeaumont wrote: 93 Points
Dark; vigorous. substantial but not bulky. This will drink well next 5+ years. Classic Barossan Shiraz,
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9/29/2013 - peterchoy wrote: 92 Points
Appearance: Bright and clear, this wine is of deep ruby color, with legs.
Nose: Clean, the nose shows medium (+) intensity aromas of black fruit such as blackberry, dark cherries, pungent spice of liquorice and anise, oak notes of cedar and charred wood, mineral notes of rubber, maturity notes of tobacco. The wine is developing.
Palate: Dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannin of ripe but smooth texture, the wine has high alcohol and is of medium (+) body with medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit such as blackberry and dark cherries, oak notes of cedar and vanilla, pungent spice of liquorice and black pepper. The wine has a long finish.
Conclusion: Very good quality Barossa Valley Shiraz, with an intense and complex nose showing good typical varietal characters, the wine has a robust structure, with good tannin providing the framework to build on the concentrated palate, but overall still possessing the balance and elegance. Despite the high alcohol level the wine was not warming in any way. An exceptionally long length accompanies, this wine is ready to drink now though can benefit from further ageing of another 3-5 years.
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7/7/2013 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last bottle of '03. I think this wine is in its sweet spot right now for drinking but enough tannins around my teeth to suggest it will go for another 5 years with adequate cellaring. 14.8% alcohol but not hot at all, with a big glycerin look and weight in the glass. Color is still very dark red/black. On the nose licorice, dark cherries, blackberry, raisin, anise, with a little candy and an overall "aged" and inviting smell. Taste consistent with nose: bing cherries, currants, quite juicy without being overly sweet. Finish lasts 60 sec+. While this wine would be considered fruit forward by most, it ISN'T a fruit bomb like so many Aussie wines. The structure and intrigue of this classy wine compared to many of its brawny brothers and sisters is why I continue to buy Rockford and have several vintages in my cellar.
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8/13/2012 - docwines wrote: 94 Points
Powerful fruit
Lots of red fruits and currants
Nice pepper and tannin
Still young
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12/19/2010 - boreddoughboy wrote: 94 Points
great upfront fruit that develops on the palate. Some oakiness that is well in balance with the tannins. The flavor goes on and on. Awesome juice!
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4/1/2010 - Kerino wrote: 91 Points
Intriguing wine. Loads of licorice and anise. Finely constructed. Fine to drink but I suspect it's still too early for this wine to mellow out further and show what it can really do. I've one bottle left and will think about trying it in 4-5 years.
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5/27/2009 - tonsta wrote: 94 Points
Pop-n-pour. Had this at Daniel and Tamara's house alongside a '05 Greenock Creek Seven Acre Shiraz. Very different in styles but hard to separate them points wise. Not surprising this wine was a lot more fruit driven and medium to full bodied. It had lovely soft tannins and generous red fruits.
While it is drinking pretty well now it will go another 10 years easy!
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12/18/2007 - humagne wrote: 94 Points
The nose displays ripe fruit and hickory,cedar, tobacco, spicy aromas. Palate is full-bodied with good length. Nice tannins.
Nice shiraz in the old style.
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1/26/2007 - CamWheeler wrote: 88 Points
A nose that is jam packed with sweet, ripe fruit. Blackcurrant, anise/liquorice, some background vanilla oak and blueberry muffins was an aroma descriptor that I particularly liked. More intense, sweet fruit on the palate that I think will appeal to lovers of the richly fruited Barossa style. Nice length, but just a bit too ripe for my personal liking.
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