Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

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Luke W
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Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Luke W »

Anyone been over to Rockfords and can give us a lowdown on the latest batch?

Cheers

Luke
If you can remember what a wine is like the next day you didn't drink enough of it
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WAwineguy
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by WAwineguy »

Only just put in my order as I'm in WA.

But they sure have a lot of different grape varieties in their wine selections these days!

Ordered a couple of the Cane Cut Semillon to try it out. Anyone familiar with this?

George Krashos
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by George Krashos »

WAwineguy wrote:Ordered a couple of the Cane Cut Semillon to try it out. Anyone familiar with this?
It's okay but in my view overpriced for what it is.

Mahmoud Ali
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Mahmoud Ali »

George Krashos wrote:
WAwineguy wrote:Ordered a couple of the Cane Cut Semillon to try it out. Anyone familiar with this?
It's okay but in my view overpriced for what it is.
More than the Mount Horrocks?

George Krashos
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by George Krashos »

Mahmoud Ali wrote:
George Krashos wrote:
WAwineguy wrote:Ordered a couple of the Cane Cut Semillon to try it out. Anyone familiar with this?
It's okay but in my view overpriced for what it is.
More than the Mount Horrocks?
Never had the Mt Horrocks so can't say.

sjw_11
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by sjw_11 »

George Krashos wrote:
WAwineguy wrote:Ordered a couple of the Cane Cut Semillon to try it out. Anyone familiar with this?
It's okay but in my view overpriced for what it is.
Overpriced at $34? Doesn't seem a lot for a small production cane cut wine.

My Horrocks (which is Riesling not Semillon btw) looks to be about $40 these days and that's probably OK in my book (only 500 cases made). Don't think I have ever had the Rockies wine to specifically compare.
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JamieBahrain
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by JamieBahrain »

I bought some Mt Horrocks at auction and don’t think they age that well ( supposed professional cellar )

They are OK but if you drink European sweet wine the raisiny development is pretty underwhelming. My mate’s Thai mother in law loved them in a BBQ in Chiang Rai. So not wasted !
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by JamieBahrain »

And on Rockfords I’ll visit next month and try . Pretty miserly tasting samples- I need a good pour to have any idea.

It gets harder and harder to buy each year. It’s the same price, often more, than my favourite Italian producers. Seem to be buying it more for other people as presenting perfectly cellared BP delights so many .
"Barolo is Barolo, you can't describe it, just as you can't describe Picasso"

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phillisc
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by phillisc »

JamieBahrain wrote:And on Rockfords I’ll visit next month and try . Pretty miserly tasting samples- I need a good pour to have any idea.

It gets harder and harder to buy each year. It’s the same price, often more, than my favourite Italian producers. Seem to be buying it more for other people as presenting perfectly cellared BP delights so many .
Yep.
Will buy the 16s and then will look to scale down by the 2020 release...as will probably (or already) have enough by then.
I also think there will be a changing of the guard, new winemakers, new directors, who knows new owners.

Have always had very generous pours over the years :wink:
Cheers Craig
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by JamieBahrain »

In the good old days I’d get a baker’s dozen ( one BP gifted ) at cellar door so I could try the vintage over a Barossa dinner that night . Very nice of them.
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phillisc
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by phillisc »

JamieBahrain wrote:In the good old days I’d get a baker’s dozen ( one BP gifted ) at cellar door so I could try the vintage over a Barossa dinner that night . Very nice of them.
Jamie, don't tell anyone, but I am still doing that, yes to have a try on release, but largely to keep unopened cartons intact :wink:
Cheers Craig.
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Jimmya »

Isnt it 6 bottle limit?

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phillisc
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by phillisc »

Sure is, but second, third and forth trips are allowed aren't they :wink: , or from mates who are long term customers and just get a few loose bottles. There are also bottle shops who do a fair price as well.

Cheers Craig
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Mahmoud Ali
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Mahmoud Ali »

Or you could pick up a backpacker, take him to cellar door, and after a perfunctory tasting, get him to buy you a case/six pack.

For context see my post halfway down:

http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?f ... el#p152254

Cheers ............... Mahmoud.

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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by JamieBahrain »

Jimmya wrote:Isnt it 6 bottle limit?
In the 90’s the staff knew what was going ( flippers with friends etc ) and regular customers were often slipped another case and a few bottles as gifts . Was a lovely experience counter to the commercialism risking in the region .
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Mahmoud Ali »

Back in the 90's the Basket Press was limited to one case.

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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by JamieBahrain »

Officially yes, unofficially no and even semi-officially no. On the later I’m not in the market for extra BP but on stonewaller visits was offered extra BP under certain circumstances.

Not going to argue with anyone on this I used to visit six times a year. Loved the staff and atmosphere .
"Barolo is Barolo, you can't describe it, just as you can't describe Picasso"

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Mahmoud Ali
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Mahmoud Ali »

I understand that they still use cork for the Basket Press. What about their other wines?

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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Mahmoud Ali »

JamieBahrain wrote:Officially yes, unofficially no and even semi-officially no. On the later I’m not in the market for extra BP but on stonewaller visits was offered extra BP under certain circumstances.

Not going to argue with anyone on this I used to visit six times a year. Loved the staff and atmosphere .
I'm sure you're right. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised that the cellar staff knew very well that me the foreigner was buying a case of the BP for the man who had just bought one the day before.

Agree with you on staff and atmosphere, and my visits were six years apart!

Mahmoud.

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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Brucer »

Mahmoud Ali wrote:I understand that they still use cork for the Basket Press. What about their other wines?
I am drinking a 2016 Rockford semillon right now, and its sealed with cork. the wine is very good.
When not drinking a fine red, I'm a cardboard claret man!

Redav
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Redav »

Mahmoud Ali wrote:I understand that they still use cork for the Basket Press. What about their other wines?
The wines they keep under cork from that I know of are;

Basket Press Shiraz
Black Shiraz
Rifle Range
Moppa Springs
Rod & Spur
Vine Vale Riesling
Local Growers Semillon
Cane Cut Semillon
P.S. Marion Tawny (is it technically under cork?)
Shiraz VP (ditto)

And I'd expect that their SVS wines were under cork too but I have no idea whether they still have any thing available there, maybe museum releases?

A_Steady
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by A_Steady »

They are doing a Grenache for Stonewall room purchases only

Redav
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Redav »

Nice. Any more details on what it is or is it a museum release of the Moppa Springs?

A_Steady
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by A_Steady »

2015 Dry Country Grenache - a blast from the past

I will get to try it this coming Saturday

Redav
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Redav »

Ah, it is. It's a name I've only ever seen in the original Rags. That's not hard though, I've only been buying for ten years :lol:. I do wonder what it's like and whether it's the Moppa or not?

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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by JamieBahrain »

Still $15 a bottle ?
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Mahmoud Ali
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Mahmoud Ali »

Redav wrote:
Mahmoud Ali wrote:I understand that they still use cork for the Basket Press. What about their other wines?
The wines they keep under cork from that I know of are;

Basket Press Shiraz
Black Shiraz
Rifle Range
Moppa Springs
Rod & Spur
Vine Vale Riesling
Local Growers Semillon
Cane Cut Semillon
P.S. Marion Tawny (is it technically under cork?)
Shiraz VP (ditto)

And I'd expect that their SVS wines were under cork too but I have no idea whether they still have any thing available there, maybe museum releases?
So, basically, all their wines. Cool, sometimes it's nice to see someone going against the tide.
A_Steady wrote:2015 Dry Country Grenache - a blast from the past.
I remember that one, it was a 1991 that I found at one of the Vintage Cellars in Sydney.
JamieBahrain wrote:Still $15 a bottle ?
Ha, ha, that's funny.

A_Steady
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by A_Steady »

Mahmoud Ali wrote:So, basically, all their wines. Cool, sometimes it's nice to see someone going against the tide.
The white Frontignac, Hand picked Riesling, Alicante Bouchet Rose and Frugal Farmer are screw capped.

Jimmya
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by Jimmya »

A_Steady wrote:They are doing a Grenache for Stonewall room purchases only
So if your a stonewaller, if your at the winery. Much like the svs releases then

A_Steady
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Re: Anyone tried the latest Rockfords?

Post by A_Steady »

Jimmya wrote:
A_Steady wrote:They are doing a Grenache for Stonewall room purchases only
So if your a stonewaller, if your at the winery. Much like the svs releases then
Yes, same setup as the svs was.

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