Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

[Wayno]

Monday night with a 375ml bottle:

Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet 2004
Crimson red, fresh, lively nose of cherries and raspberries with gentle cedary oak. Very ripe style but not overly hot; rather, quite balanced. Some grippy tannins and nice length with a slightly confectioned aftertaste. On the gentle end of medium bodied, a lovely drink and with some room to develop.

[El Josho]

Good notes, but talking about 375ml bottles specifically...

On a recent trip to France I was amazed at the sheer number of wines available in the half bottle format. Admittedly the majority where spermarket-esque lunch wines, but still AOC classified. In Australia it all seems to be those smaller one serve bottles, with very few wines available in anything just that bit bigger. I reckon more wine producers should bottle in half bottles - more people might be tempted to open a half bottle with their dinner rather than a 750ml jobbie, or perhaps share a bottle in a restauarnt rather than the risky (ie just how long has this bottle been open/sitting there) 'by the glass' option.

[Wayno]

Here here, El Josho.

I'm not ordinarily a big user of the 375ml bottle but with my limited experience, when I have partaken, I've found them very useful. Consciously curbs the evening's drinking and seals the door on temptation somewhat. Of course, they're not the ideal format for cellaring but that's not really the point I suppose.

I still struggle with the Magnum format as rarely do I want or need to open so much of one wine - parties and large events otherwise excluded.

I think there was a thread here a while back, talking up the 500ml(ish) bottle which I think is a good idea but never seen here, aside the fortifieds and their kin.

Welcome to the forum, El Josho.

[PeterO]

I am right 375ml format at present. My wife is pregnant and I find 750ml bottles midweek a bit much. Screwcaps are handy but really would like to see more quality in the 375ml range.

[Ralph]

I'm more drink half one night, cork back in and into the fridge, then polish off the next night.

Of course when the second glass leaves you wanting another have been known to knock the whole bottle off.

[MartinE]

I am right 375ml format at present. My wife is pregnant and I find 750ml bottles midweek a bit much. Screwcaps are handy but really would like to see more quality in the 375ml range.

Try empty swing-top Grolsch bottles.

M.

[Gavin Trott]

I am right 375ml format at present. My wife is pregnant and I find 750ml bottles midweek a bit much. Screwcaps are handy but really would like to see more quality in the 375ml range.

Try empty swing-top Grolsch bottles.

M.

First

empty one (yum)

then fill it with wine.

Works for me!

[MartinE]

I am right 375ml format at present. My wife is pregnant and I find 750ml bottles midweek a bit much. Screwcaps are handy but really would like to see more quality in the 375ml range.

Try empty swing-top Grolsch bottles.

M.

First

empty one (yum)

then fill it with wine.

Works for me!

Yup...Me too!! )

The value is the Grolsch lets you store a 375 left over half bottle without air.

M.

[GrahamB]

The value is the Grolsch lets you store a 375 left over half bottle without air.
M.

But aren't the swing top bottles 500ml? 250Ml surely is just a starter.

[MartinE]

The value is the Grolsch lets you store a 375 left over half bottle without air.
M.

But aren't the swing top bottles 500ml? 250Ml surely is just a starter.

473ml to be precise and I didn't say I used them...It's just a good idea if you're silly enough to only have one or two glasses !!

[Lagare Lout]

I am lamenting the dissapearance of 375 mL bottles, especially imports. Trying new producers from Europe is expensive (and sometimes a lottery), and 375 mL bottles have been a good way to keep up with what is happening (e.g Faiveley, Guigal, Bordeaux etc).

The 500 mL format is promising, but I don't think there are any 500 mL premium bottles made in Australia. The imported glass lands in more expensive than a locally produced 750 mL premium bottle. The closure still costs the same, and the labels and cartons will most likely cost more (small production run). In the end the economics are not favourable, a 1/2 (or 2/3) sized bottle doesn't cost much less to produce than a 750 mL, but the price needs to be close to 1/2 to appear 'reasonable' to the punter handing over the plastic...

My ideal (not too boozy) dinner is a half bottle of white and then a half bottle of red between two. I would always rather two half bottles of different wines that a single 750 mL. Then again, at the offline last night it was 34-odd bottles between 16.