Rochford Winery, Yarra Valley, VIC

[tpang]

Visited here prior to TarraWarra.. very peaceful on any other day apart from Day On The Green, when the ferrals come out at 4pm..

Rochford Macedon Ranges Blanc de Blanc 2010
A bit of an oddity, starting with a sparkling not made from Yarra fruit given the relative abundance of Chardonnay fruit in the region. A Chardonnay sparkling wine made from fruit residing way up North of the valley. This was an easy-drinking representative sparkling offering notes of red berry fruit and lime citrus. It held a rough mousse texture, lacking in finesse similar to wines of Domaine Chandon or Dominique Portet, so it is hard to recommend with this pricetag. Drink now.

Rochford Riesling 2010, Yarra Valley
Don’t see too much Riesling from the Yarra Valley. A small batch wine with 50-100 dozen produced depending on the vintage. Currently still selling 2010, and the subsequent years are held back until this sells out. Soft aromas of lime citrus with a hint of white ginger. A medium-bodied wine, med- acidity. Clean lime citrus flavours, but overall experience lacks vibrancy and precision. Needed a touch more acidity and flavour complexity. Drink now.

Rochford Chardonnay 2012, Yarra Valley
Matured in 20% new French oak, with the remainder split between 2nd and 3rd use. Despite that conservative proportion, the use of medium-toasted French oak barrels really stood out in this wine. Almost a distraction from the youthful cloud of green peach, lemon curd and chalky musk aromas. Medium+ bodied wine despite a greater expectation on the initial hit due to the rush of acidity. That is really a necessity to balance out the flavours of lemon citrus, grapefruit and redcurrants. However, the overall mouthfeel felt rather lean, not as abundant as the aroma profile led on. The finish does linger initially, then simply dissipates. Drink now – 2019.

Rochford Pinot Rose 2014, Yarra Valley
A nice pale rose crimson colour. This wine offers notes of strawberry, nashi pear and crush baby mint leaves. Quite a flavoursome drink with good level of acidity balanced with fruit intensity on the palate. Good choice for this summer. Drink now.

Rochford Pinot Noir 2013, Yarra Valley
This spent 12 months in oak. Clear, medium+ ruby colour. Youthful aromas of rose scented talc, red cherry and slices of dried mandarin peel. A medium-bodied wine with high acidity and young raw tannins. Leaner on the palate than on the aromatic profile. Red berries, spice. Persistent finish but intensity falls over after awhile. Drink now – 2019.

Rochford Cabernet Franc 2012, Yarra Valley
Attractive aromatic profile, red cherry, red berries and violets. Nice, full-bodied wine (I suppose ripeness was easily achieved in the 2012 vintage), with good acidity matched by an even slate of grainy tannins. Nice intensity on the palate, red berry fruit, dark chocolate touch. Good finish. Drink now.

Rochford ‘la Driote’ Red blend 2012, Yarra Valley
A 65/20/15 blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. A nice Merlot-dominant blend offering wafts of blackcurrant, black tea and dried herbs. Well-rounded body, high acidity and a good load of dry, sappy tannins. Fresh dark berry flavours and a comfortable finish. Drink now.

Rochford ‘la Gauche’ Red blend 2012, Yarra Valley
An 85/13/2 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. In comparison, this has more gusto than the la Driote. The edginess does come from the greater proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. It is more meaty, earthy, blackberry fruit. Smooth texture, high acidity and fine tannins. Does feel slightly rough on the edges but remains an enjorable drink. Drink now.

Rochford Syrah 2013, Yarra Valley
Aromas of black cherry and blueberry, med+ to high acidity, broad powdery tannins, decent fruit weight, but a softer, cooler-climate wine. Drink now.

[Cloth Ears]

We used to enjoy a lot of the Rochford stuff (and probably still would if we had any left), but haven't had a chance to go back there for a couple of years (and our member thing has lapsed also). Got to see a few Day on the Greens when the acts were a little less 'mass appeal'-ing (and the crowd less bogan). The only hassle I have with Rochford is that a lot of their wines change or simply no longer get made. By example, some of their Pinots, the Macedon Ranges brand and their 'cheap' brand which had a lovely (IMO) Viognier blend.
But it's probably simple laziness that's caused us to stop going back. That being said, we'll try to get there soon at some stage!