Rockford Rifle Range

[ads_11]

The recent Offline in Sydney thread with a cracking line up of BP's has me thinking a bit about the "other" big red in the Rockford line up. Doing a bit of a search on here brings up a bit of a sporadic response and I was just wondering if those learned people here do not put as much stock in the RR as they do in the BP?

Certainly the BP has a better pedigree, but my personnel experience with the RR has been fantastic. I bought a case of the 2009 a couple years ago and in my haste (enjoyment) I have drunk all but 1 in that time. I kinda regret that I did not hang on to a few more for a bit of a sleep but was not really into cellaring wine back then. I also now have nearly a case of the 2011 that I have stashed away that will hopefully have time to mature.

Recently I have been having a sniff around the auctions, and it appears that the secondary market is awash with BP and very few listings of the RR. Again, I wonder why?

Cheers
Ads

[Scotty vino]

The recent Offline in Sydney thread with a cracking line up of BP's has me thinking a bit about the "other" big red in the Rockford line up. Doing a bit of a search on here brings up a bit of a sporadic response and I was just wondering if those learned people here do not put as much stock in the RR as they do in the BP?

Certainly the BP has a better pedigree, but my personnel experience with the RR has been fantastic. I bought a case of the 2009 a couple years ago and in my haste (enjoyment) I have drunk all but 1 in that time. I kinda regret that I did not hang on to a few more for a bit of a sleep but was not really into cellaring wine back then. I also now have nearly a case of the 2011 that I have stashed away that will hopefully have time to mature.

Recently I have been having a sniff around the auctions, and it appears that the secondary market is awash with BP and very few listings of the RR. Again, I wonder why?

Cheers
Ads

To me it definitely is the black sheep of the Rockford family. A little underrated no doubt. What hope do you have when your big brother is so revered? I've bought the RR every time I've tried it at the CD. Got some 2008 and 2011's lying in wait.

[PaulG]

Rifle Range is a great wine - personally I think that the Moppa Springs is the underrated gem in the Rockford stable, but RR is an excellent wine. I might have to pull one out for some re-acquaintance this weekend!

[Krusty]

personally I think that the Moppa Springs is the underrated gem in the Rockford stable, but RR is an excellent wine.

+1

[Michael R]

personally I think that the Moppa Springs is the underrated gem in the Rockford stable, but RR is an excellent wine.

+1

+2

[ticklenow1]

personally I think that the Moppa Springs is the underrated gem in the Rockford stable, but RR is an excellent wine.

I love the Moppa's as well. Have a couple of dozen in the cellar, but I've always adored the Rifle Range. Quite often I prefer it to the Basket Press. Having said that, I also really like the Home Block Cabernet (probably my favourite Rockford wine, mainly for sentimental reasons!).

The '98, '02 and 04 Rifle Range's we're in incredible, as was the '10. They are some of the more longer lasting Cabernet's to come from the Barossa. Most vintages need a few years to hit their stride though. Even the much criticised 2011 vintage produced a beautiful Rifle Range that I was more than happy to buy. I will be going long on the '12's when they come out later in the year.

Cheers
Ian

[ads_11]

Any thoughts on why there are not many spotted at auction. In my very recent auction activity, I have only seen it on gray's online (apologies if I am not allowed to mention them). Do people hang on to them and drink as they are less of a proposition to make a few bucks, as is the case with the BP??

I would really like to source some more of the 09 and 10's but none to be found.

As for the Moppa, I was not too keen on them a couple years ago, but enjoyed the latest vintage so picked up a few.

I will also be giving the '12 RR a big hit this year I think.

[ads_11]

personally I think that the Moppa Springs is the underrated gem in the Rockford stable, but RR is an excellent wine.

I love the Moppa's as well. Have a couple of dozen in the cellar, but I've always adored the Rifle Range. Quite often I prefer it to the Basket Press. Having said that, I also really like the Home Block Cabernet (probably my favourite Rockford wine, mainly for sentimental reasons!).

I did not realise the Home Block only came in Magnums. Have you tried an 06 by chance?

[Luke W]

The wine that turned me onto Rockford was a 1995 RR Cabernet that I got as a filler to make up a dozen a couple of years ago. To this day it's still probably as good as any Rockford wine I've had (and I've had heaps since). I also love the 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 RR's. I wouldn't decant them for long tho' - they seem to lose something if they get too much air - just an hour or so is fine with those from the last decade. The auction scene seems to come and go. Two years ago you could easily get RR's for only $25-35 a bottle but I bought all those! Still have fond memories about an 06 RR at the Tanunda pub that just blew us all away.

[Mahmoud Ali]

There seems to be a lot of love here for the Moppa Springs. I recall being at cellar door some years ago and thoroughly enjoying the 1998 Moppa Springs. The '98 Basket Press was sold out and not on sale but I did get a taste of it - very nice it was too. Their '98 Semillon was also nice - I can't help wondering how all these wines would be right now.

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

[sjw_11]

I like the rifle range

I got a few half bottles at auction a while back, I think 1997 and 2003 and even in that format they were still drinking well. I have the 2009, 2010, 2011 in the cellar and will certainly get some of the 2012 when released.

[Rossco]

I had the 02 as the RR cabernet at my wedding a few years ago.
Was absolutely sublime. Held it's own against the 99 langi.

Don't have any 02 left but have some 06 waiting patiently in the cellar,
That i will crack soon.

Love Rockford cabernet. Has the 05 home block last year and
It was still a baby. Needed a lot longer.

[phillisc]

Great topic and along with a good number of vintages of BP, I have RRs from the late 90s, 02, 04, 08, and 2010.
Yes appears to be much love in the room for the Moppa too.

For me though the wine that is absolutely forgotten (and yes apart from BP) is my absolute favourite in the range...is the Rod and Spur.
Perhaps my affection for the great Australian blend sees this as a must buy, especially in favorable vintages.

With out the harassing telephone calls, pound for pound Rod and Spur absolutely flogs 389.
But then Yalumba signature does too and at 25-30% cheaper you would have to ask why.

Long live Rockford and well done again gang for what looked like a cracker of an evening.

Cheers
Craig.

[ticklenow1]

personally I think that the Moppa Springs is the underrated gem in the Rockford stable, but RR is an excellent wine.

I love the Moppa's as well. Have a couple of dozen in the cellar, but I've always adored the Rifle Range. Quite often I prefer it to the Basket Press. Having said that, I also really like the Home Block Cabernet (probably my favourite Rockford wine, mainly for sentimental reasons!).

I did not realise the Home Block only came in Magnums. Have you tried an 06 by chance?

Had one a couple of weeks back. Decanted for about 24hrs and was drinking very well. Will go another 10 years in a canter. Dark fruit, silken tannins, good length and oak in a supporting role only. The '02 was the pick of the ones that I've tried and we had 2 of them and a '00 to wet the young fella's head. I only have '04, '05 & '06 left in my cellar and I won't be touching them until at least 2020.

Cheers
Ian

[Scotty vino]

Had a 2001 Home block about a year ago. Gave it about a 6-8 hr decant than ripped into it.
The cork was seriously on it's last legs. Just got it out and it was soaked all the way to the top with millimetres to spare.
Have a photo somewhere and it was quite amazing how close this thing was to leaking.
Reckon another year and it would've been gone.
What a cracking wine. All those who tried it loved it.

[grapeobserver]

I admit the Rifle Range cabernet wasn't a style I was particularly attracted to initially, whereas the BP is a bit more self evidently outstanding. But over time, I've come to enjoy the RR and it appears built to last. I like it that Rockford aren't trying to produce a Bordeaux style (I am thinking in particular of their newsletter notes on the 2011 vintage where they recounted that the grapes had performed well, calling on their long forgotten genetic memories of their origins in the humid/damp Medoc!) but instead produce a Barossan climate version of cabernet sauvignon that's comfortable "in its own skin", which I think's a good thing.