Rockford Sydney Offline - Oh What A Night!

[Hacker]

BTW we are upstairs now.

Just received a PM from Bigred, who has manflu and isn't able to make it tonight. That is a bit of a tragedy as he was bringing a 1998 BP. Oh well, thems the breaks.

[Polymer]

I have the 06 BP for Cam.

[maybs]

Basket Press 2004 is decanting.... Was thinking I should have left it for quite a few more years, but upon seeing the cork, I'm happy it's being opened now!! Certain eras of Rockford are becoming notorious for these wet spongy soaked through corks, and from many reports elsewhere, it seems that 2004 is one of the worst offenders. And no, it's not a storage issue.

Smells good, but will definitely show much better after decanting for a few hours.

My ETA as mentioned is around 7.05. Please save some bubbly or white for me!

Just got out of my marathon of meetings. Not sure why I am looking at this thread, it is only going to upset me!

I have had 2 '04 BP's Tim and both corks have been quite soaked to at least halfway up, though the wines were in good nick. It is a shame, it does have me worried for the other few I have. Guess I better drink up

[maybs]

I'm waiting, psychologically fragile, to hear what I missed

[ads_11]

They were all corked !!!

Actually, I am keen to hear as well as I have just picked up some 99's and 04's...

[dave vino]

Updated with notes and reposted below.

[The fish]

...I was checking my twitter feed in the vain hope that Timmy or Cam would throw the dinner 'watchers' a bone last night but to no avail Perhaps the Auswine forum needs a hashtag for offlines or high value bottles ?

Nice work lads. The food looks tops and I'm sure the wine was...it's usual self (awesome!)

Cheers
Matt

[Hacker]

Great photos Dave, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do with doctoring up the others of Tim later - although some are all too self incriminating as they are!

As to the night and the wines, Cafe Lyon once again did an outstanding job of turning out 5 star food and service. You could not find a better venue that caters for our needs. Well done! Rockford reigns supreme as far as I am concerned. Any of the wines served alone on the night would have kept me happy, so comments about slight nuances about one wine over another are minor in this context. We started with a non Rockford, one of Dave's 'ring ins' and it was damn close to wine of the night, a 1969 Redman Claret. It had lost much of its clarity but not its beguiling soft velvety flavour. Others will describe it in more technical terms but it was an honour to drink. Next was a Rockford Black Shiraz disgorged in 2001. There was serious leakage around the cork, and it was quite loose, but it slipped out with a healthy pop much to our relief. Quite simple and very sweet, surprising for such an older disgorgement. Lovely to drink but not a wine to dwell over.

The 1996 Basket Press had been decanted for an hour or so and was sitting at the end of the table, and we all were waiting, waiting to try some. Thanks Pia for donating this for the greater cause! the '96 was matched with the 1997 BP and as said before, any of the wines served alone was a beautiful experience. But, just like elimination pairings in 'The Voice' that 0.05% difference leads you to favour one or the other, and the '96 was the more complete wine. Not by much, and I would be happy to own some '97s but its length and depth didn't quite match the great year '96 vintage.

Next came the '04 and '06 BP comparison. Two very good years, arguable the best two of that decade. Hard to separate these ones, both in mid life phase and remarkably full bodied. Matt commented that the '04 previously carried ribena traits, but I didn't find any this time. Maybe the '04 by a whisker. The '06 deserves a save by the other judges though. As a *breather* Dave kindly also brought a 1997 Rockford Cab Sav to taste. Smooth rich and sweet, full of regionality but it had lost its cabernet roots to me. I probably would have guessed it as another shiraz if pushed

Next came the young'uns, the '08, '09 and '10. Three ducks in a row. The '08 was very approachable; sweet full bodied with not a hair out of place. Nothing stewed that I could pick from a controversial year. Very happy I have some of these. I found the '09 more muddled and disjointed, perhaps a touch astringent, although others said it settled down over the night. The 2010 is just too young, and I was just too old at this time of the night to go on giving accurate assessments, but it has everything there to evolve into a classic.

To cap the night of Dave yet again produced a beautiful Doisy-Daene 2004 Sauternes to guarantee our next day ruination. Super rich and concentrated with apricot and pear tones. Heaven!

Thanks everyone for a lovely night. You just cannot go wrong with Rockford Basket Press. The night demonstrated how the wine evolves from a young expressive powerful style to a richer fuller complex silken middle age wine, to graceful older age showing excellent structure with a refined palate and complex regionality, still with depth of fruit. What more could you possibly ask for!

[phillisc]

Hacker, Thanks so much for the notes, really appreciate it and that all wines look pretty good.

The venue looks fantastic.

Cheers
Craig.

[camw]

Thanks all for having me along at the last minute and the team effort to arrange the 06 BP (maybs for providing, polymer picking it up, Dave providing the Wendouree and Krusty for dropping it off!). My favourites were probably the 96, the 04 and the 08 (though 08 probably not a super long term proposition but I liked it anyway). I'll try to post some notes at some point.

[Michael R]

+1, thanks for the notes, and well done on getting it all organised, yet again.
Hilarious Voice analogy for the judging too

[TiggerK]

Great night, excellent food, and a really fun group of people. We had a ball.

Lovely 04 Riesling to start, nice development, drinking well, thanks Cam.
The Redman 1969 had some saying 'we've got the WOTN, lets finish up now'. Delicious nose and while a touch thin on the palate, still plenty of good stuff going on. Auction bargain, thanks Dave.

Stop, Rockford Time. My WOTN was the 1996, some agreed, while others preferred the 04 or 08. All wines were good and you'd be very happy drinking any of them.

I loved the mellow floral character of the 96, seems to have integrated well and would advise drinking window has definitely started.
The 1997 seemed a bit mono-dimensional in comparison, softer gentler tannins, still a big wine, smooth and classically Barossan.

The 2004 was decanted for two hours, and thank goodness. Great structure and plenty of tannins, mainly noticeable on the finish and mid palate. Very layered, brooding and and textured. Still young, and should age wonderfully, but those soaked corks are a real concern. Wine was sound though.
The 2006 was fascinating, huge thanks to Scott for the generous offer in absentia, really above and beyond there, we salute you sir. Also very young, spicy herbal notes on entry, fans out in the mouth, yet still reticent and tight. A bit 'lighter' and some more complexity than the 2004, but just a smidgen. I think someone mentioned a change in winemaker/styles around these years? Could make sense if so.

have to go... carry on later..

[maybs]

Photos look terrific and sounds like a great night. Gutted not to have made it but really it has just whet my appetite for the next offline here in Sydney. Thanks for the notes too, always interesting to read about how different vintages compare

[Polymer]

Great night! Had two new participants Colin and Pia...Hope to see them at some other offlines in the future!

Night started with a 2004 Dr. Burklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Altenburg Riesling Trocken which Cam has said was a tribute to the Barossa Valley's German roots...right .. Nice acid but not searing acidity..Nose had some orange peel and lemon pith notes as well as some florals.....There is something about German Rieslings where the fruit, acid and residual sugar (whatever this one had was low) just blend together nicely...which to me is a huge contrast to Aussie Riesling where I feel like each of those components stick out individually. Might've been my favorite wine of the night..

The Black Shiraz was probably one of the better ones I've had from Rockford although my experience with Sparkling Reds is pretty minimal. To me they're always fun... a bit of leather, dark fruit and structure hidden underneath some bubbles and a tad bit of sugar.

The 96 was probably my favorite BP last year and this year is the same...Good overall structure, still going strong..great complexity..
The 97 BP was giving off a very oaky mouthfeel for me but I think it was the pork because I didn't get that later on...A solid BP but I think it suffered next to the 96.
2004 BP was to me almost sweet, actually reminded me a bit of the Black Shiraz..but the structure was there to take it over the long haul. Fruit was still there, a bit on the bigger side but not overripe...Tannin structure still there but not overly aggressive...acid was good for a BP...I want to see this in 10 more years...I think it'll be better than the 96..
2006 BP was still quite young...fruit wise it was a bit muted next to the 2004 and the tannins were quite a bit harsher...This needs more time for sure.
2008 BP - A really soft Basket Press. Soft tannins, low acidity (seemed like to me anyways). Fruit was nice but I don't see this going the long haul. It is drinking nicely now, might pick up some additional complexity for a few years still....but I don't think this has the same structure of most of the other BPs.
2009 BP - Bright fruit but also picking up quite a bit of heat..both Krusty and I thought the same thing at the same time...I think this settled down a bit though because I didn't notice it as much later on.
2010 BP - One of the best young BP's I've tried but still very young...Everything is there for this to go the long haul...I think with a bit more air this is drinkable now..but really I think people are just better off waiting 5+ if not 10+ years..
97 Rockford Cab - I really enjoyed this...bright red fruits, good acidity..Smelled like a Margaret River Cab...I actually think this was showing better than the 97 BP..
1969 Redman Claret - Very interesting nose....a lot of leafy tobacco notes...smells like a Coonawarra..I think this was a straight Shiraz? Fruit was gone but the wine was still very interesting...Wonderful opportunity to try something that is 45 years from vintage...
2004 Doisy - Orange Marmalade on the nose..very rich...Went fantastically well with my Pear Tart Tatin...

The restaurant was nice...food was actually very good and the portion sizes were quite generous. Contrasting this to Rocket...Smaller table so it was easier to talk to everyone..but also a lot tighter as well. If we had 10 and did flights of 4 we'd probably have space issues..but as it stood on the night, it was perfect. I think the only thing was they kept wanting to take our glasses and almost took some of the Zaltos...Obviously their intent was not to steal them but just do what they'd normally do...but we had to stay somewhat alert .

I will say, 8 sounds like it'd be a good number but it actually ends up to where you get quite a bit of each wine..probably more than is needed. In most cases we made the rounds with a third or more of the bottle left...Sometimes even a half...I don't even think we finished everything....I'm not complaining I think I was just a bit surprised at how much we had left...

[Krusty]

Just confirming Wendouree was successfully dropped off. Make sure the guy at reception doesn't snaffle it maybs !

Won't add to much to the other comments except to offer my thanks to all for their generosity and particularly Hacker for arranging it all, top food, top wines, top company, great night.

96, 04, 08 were the placings for me with very honourable mentions to the rizza and the astounding Redman.

[maybs]

Yep the Wendouree made it into my hot little hands. Luckily Jan is an honest young chap..and probably didn't know what he had! great team effort that, thanks

Can't help myself after reading all this. About to decant an '04 BP to console myself

[maybs]

CORKED! Oh why, why wine gods why?!?!

[TiggerK]

Oh no, that's terrible news!! Hope you found and are enjoying something good to replace it?

[maybs]

Oh no, that's terrible news!! Hope you found and are enjoying something good to replace it?

Cracked an '02 Dead Arm instead but still...

[dave vino]

...and Tim and Cam who I just realised hijacked my camera when I went to the loo, you'll be getting special treatment of my Photoshop skills later

[Hacker]

Oh stop....that's too much

[camw]

Perfect

[maybs]

oh my...

[sjw_11]

Oh that is Brilliant...

[dingozegan]

Classic

[Mark Carrington]

Yep the Wendouree made it into my hot little hands. Luckily Jan is an honest young chap..and probably didn't know what he had! great team effort that, thanks

Can't help myself after reading all this. About to decant an '04 BP to console myself

Sat here reading & thoroughly enjoying the thread & was sorely tempted to pull the cork on an '04 (a previous bottle stunning). Fortunately, already progressing through a glass of Denis Jamain Reuilly Les Fossiles, opened as it's sunny & warm for the first time in weeks.

[dave vino]

Great night drinking my favourite wine. I’ll preface this with my usual disclaimer when discussing Rockford BP in that I’m a big fan of them so all the notes below are really splitting hairs insofar that any of the wines below in isolation would have been a real pleasure to drink.

Café Lyon was a surprise in the way they manage to combine the local eatery vibe with a bit of panache for a very reasonable price, the servings were very generous, and the food cooked exceedingly well. The service was friendly and casual, although they were somewhat perplexed by our sometimes strange habits, being wine drinking tragics – and then there is Tim, who probably could have survived the Great Potato Famine on a bowl of chips finishing it just as the famine ended the poor waiter must have come back about 5 times to see if he’d finished his course. http://www.cafelyon.com.au/

Was also good to meet a couple of new faces in Pia and Colin. Pia made the remark afterwards, “you guys are really into wine” - and yes she might be onto something there , hopefully she enjoyed the evening enough and we’ll see her again and with a bit more eclectic selection we’ll be able to wax lyrical about other topics instead of nitpicking various vintages of BP

All the wines on the night were sound which was a relief. We started off with a couple of wines while waiting for everyone to arrive.

2004 Dr Burklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Altenburg – Nice weight, green apple, I made mention that it had some very Australian characteristics with a bit of kero and lanolin. Quite enjoyed this and went back for a second glass.

1969 Redman Claret – This was showing surprisingly well for a 45y.o wine. If you could liquefy leather and drink it, this would be it. Fully integrated with a soft suppleness about it which glided along the palate. A lovely old girl.

2001 Rockford Black Shiraz Disgorged 2001 - the cork was thoroughly soaked through and showed evidence of leaking. It basically just slid out of the bottle with a satisfying pop so all was not lost. It was tasting fairly straightforward with none of the leathery, secondary characteristics you usually get coming through, which painted it as quite youngish. Nice jammy characters without being cloying and a nice way to whet the appetite.

Flight One
1996 Rockford Basket Press – This opened up with some nice plummy notes, starting at the black fruit end of the spectrum with a tip of the hat to the red end (Redcurrant) as it slowly ages. There was some lip smacking acid still evident although the tannins were well integrated.

1997 Rockford Basket Press – A bit more muted than the 96 on the nose, with a touch of game, soft on the palate, the structure was a bit lacking. Although on the palate I felt it had a touch brighter fruit than the 96.

Flight Two
2004 Rockford Basket Press – Very bright and vibrant fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, almost Ribena like, hard to believe this is 8 years old already as it is still showing very young. This should age wonderfully in the next 10 years.

2006 Rockford Basket Press – More reticent on the nose, with a touch of heat, once it opened up it almost became jammy in sweetness, think plum jam. This had a lot more structure than the 04. Will be interesting to see this in 10 years as well, as it has the bigger tannin profile but not quite the fruit behind it that the 04 has.

1997 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon – Showing its age a bit more than its 97 BP sibling. Finished a bit hot for me. Nice Bacon Fat on the nose, put me in mind of more a Margaret River style CS than a Coonawarra one being more fruit forward with less rusticity.

Flight Three
2008 Rockford Basket Press – This to me showed a definite change in the way the BP is made, with a lot more spices and white pepper being evident in this and the 09. How much of this is the influence of Ben Radford is unknown. Texturally it is very soft, with great purity of fruit and some really nice sour/sappy acid backbone holding it all together. The fruit has a real depth to it and is wonderfully balanced.

2009 Rockford Basket Press – This was a bit unbalanced at first, with the white pepper, blackberry being the dominant aromas. Once it settled down it came across as a wine that maybe was in a bit of a hole at the moment. I’ve had the 09 numerous times before so was a bit perplexing.

2010 Rockford Basket Press – Very young wine, nice sweet fruit on the nose, blackberry and dark fruits, probably the closest one to the 2004 of the later vintages. I liked how it picked up a bit of smokiness in the glass which bodes well for its future as it settles down and starts aging.

We then finished off with a

2004 Ch Doisy-Daene Sauternes - which was drinking very well, very thick and rich, orange, apricot, and a nice bit of acid to keep it fresh. Lovely way to finish the night.

Great night was had by all.

I think the next theme was going to be a wine that you are really keen on and want to show others - which will hopefully will enable some newcomers to attend.

Crispy Pork Belly, Boudin Noir, Wilted Spinach and Lentils De Puy




Sirloin, Charred Spanish Onions, Bearnaise and Roast Shallot Jus. Served with Cauliflower and Leek Au Gratin, Pommes Frites




Chocolate Fondant, Cherry Compote, Espresso Ice Cream and Almond Brittle






Tim and Cam who I realised hijacked my camera when I went to the loo, you get special treatment of my Photoshop skills