Rockford Mailer

[Redwine&Rum]

Hi guys

Received the Rockford mailer today and wondering if any of you have tasted the new range?
Any standout options in there that are a must purchase?

Cheers

[phillisc]

They are all good, and have purchased most...still find the frugal farmer perplexing though.

Cheers
Craig

[Hacker]

This mailer is the second of two mailers that come from Rockford; the first being in October when the latest release of the BP and Black Shiraz are offered. For my money, both the Rifle Range Cab and the Rod and Spur are lovely wines.

[Scotty vino]

i liked most of what was on offer when I tasted.
The latest BP is a solid wine and a style that i enjoy so i grabbed some.
The RR is its standard issue underrated cousin of which I'll prob get more.
I really enjoyed the LG Sem and thought it was a pretty decent buy at 22 buckos.
Might grab another 6'er of these.
I've got a mate heading up to the CD in a week or 2 so I dare say I'll be placing an order.

[George Krashos]

Tried most of the Rockford range the other day. The reds have a lovely, bracing acid to them which to me says time in the bottle is required. The semillon is beautiful stuff. Rounder in the mouth than most Hunter versions, it still likes a bit of age and this one is a drink over the next 7-10 proposition. The Frugal Farmer I find delightful in the sense that you whack it in the fridge for a slight chill and have it with some charcuterie and cheese when you want a glass in your hand but aren't too concerned about the seriousness of what's in it. Australian Beaujolais anyone? Oh, and finally, tried the latest VP. Always wows me. Amazing drop, if somewhat on the sweeter spectrum. It's a style I personally like as my taste preference has generally moved to lighter/sweeter as time has gone on. Saying that, I'm looking forward to the Wendouree offline next week!

-- George Krashos

[Michael McNally]

My mailer still doesn't have BP on it after a few years and several purchases (two of them BP at the cellar door!).

Annoyed with this when any mug can walk in off the street and buy three.

Considering chucking in my sub. Thing is I like their other wines - Moppa Springs/Rod and Spur - but this faux exclusivity is pissing me off.

Cheers

Michael

[Redav]

My mailer still doesn't have BP on it after a few years and several purchases (two of them BP at the cellar door!).

You need to be a Stonewaller for that however give them a call and see if they'll let you order. I called March 1st and ordered three and that's the first time I've tried.

Tried most of the Rockford range the other day. The reds have a lovely, bracing acid to them which to me says time in the bottle is required.

Did you happen to taste the new Moppa? If so, what's it like?

[dave vino]

My mailer still doesn't have BP on it after a few years and several purchases (two of them BP at the cellar door!).

Annoyed with this when any mug can walk in off the street and buy three.

Considering chucking in my sub. Thing is I like their other wines - Moppa Springs/Rod and Spur - but this faux exclusivity is pissing me off.

Cheers

Michael

There is a no BP on the mailer, it is on the one later in the year. (and only for Stonewallers). I see it like the SVS stuff, even if you are a Stonewaller you can't order them via mail order.

[sjw_11]

My mailer still doesn't have BP on it after a few years and several purchases (two of them BP at the cellar door!).

Annoyed with this when any mug can walk in off the street and buy three.

Considering chucking in my sub. Thing is I like their other wines - Moppa Springs/Rod and Spur - but this faux exclusivity is pissing me off.

Cheers

Michael

Hi Michael
You may not be far off... I was a mailing list member for something like 3.5yrs before I got to Stonewaller but it did eventually happen...

(EDITED as the post said didn't at first!)

[Michael McNally]

There is a no BP on the mailer, it is on the one later in the year. (and only for Stonewallers). I see it like the SVS stuff, even if you are a Stonewaller you can't order them via mail order.

Stonewallers (who may have been on the list for decades and bought hundreds of bottles of their wines) have to actually go to the winery to buy SVS? So you might live in Darwin and have to fly to Adelaide and hire a car to purchase?

Whereas some South Australian who happens to live nearby can go there and purchase multiple times? I means seriously, WTF?

If that is truly the case I am out regardless

Cheers

Michael

[Michael McNally]

Hi Michael
You may not be far off... I was a mailing list member for something like 3.5yrs before I got to Stonewaller but it didn't eventually happen...

You gave up? Good for you. Too many wineries. Too many wines.

Cheers

Michael

[George Krashos]

I wouldn't get too worked up about the SVS range. The 06s are there now and they are the last that were made. There will be no more after that.

Many wineries have cellar door only wines which don't show up on their normal mail or web order systems. Rockford are no different in that regard.

-- George Krashos

[Michael McNally]

Many wineries have cellar door only wines which don't show up on their normal mail or web order systems. Rockford are no different in that regard.

-- George Krashos

Hi George

I understand they are being discontinued, but that is not relative to my position. None of the wineries that I am on the list of have "cellar door only" wines that are not available to purchasers from their mailing list and only available to folks who front up at the cellar door (but I might be on the wrong mailing lists!). Quite the opposite - most of the mailing lists I am on promote their "cellar door only" wines as a benefit of being on the list.

Cheers

Michael

[sjw_11]

Hi Michael
You may not be far off... I was a mailing list member for something like 3.5yrs before I got to Stonewaller but it didn't eventually happen...

You gave up? Good for you. Too many wineries. Too many wines.

Cheers

Michael

Haha sorry should have said "did" eventually happen...

[Redav]

You may not be far off... I was a mailing list member for something like 3.5yrs before I got to Stonewaller but it did eventually happen...

That's encouraging for me. I've been on the list for three years (bought through a colleague before that) and have been making two purchases a year and when I called for the last order, they looked at my 'healthy' membership and said 'Stonewaller shouldn't be far away'. We'll see but it doesn't bother me too much as I can't afford to buy too much at the moment . My colleague made Stonewaller at the start of the year and he'd been on there for eight years but had made intermittent purchases.

[Redwine&Rum]

I'm not a stonewaller, and have been on the mailing list for around 2-3 years.
I was offered the opportunity to buy 3 bottles of the 2013 BasketPress after I put my order in.

Their reasoning was that they still had some left from Stonewallers who didn't take up their allocation.
It was the first time I had been offered the basketpress.

I'm hopeful that this means I'm not too far off getting stonewaller membership.
Doing a trip down to Adelaide in the next few months so fingers crossed.

[dave vino]

I guess the question is, would you still buy their wines if Basket Press/Stonewaller idea wasn't around. My answer would be yes. I love the Rod & Spur, Rifle Range, etc.

[ufo]

You gave up? Good for you. Too many wineries. Too many wines.

Cheers

Michael[/quote]

Exactly right. I was on Stonewaller's list but quit after so many inconsistent vintages of BP. For the money there so many similar wines out there even better ones. Never understood why they are trying to create such exclusivity ?!?

[Redav]

I guess the question is, would you still buy their wines if Basket Press/Stonewaller idea wasn't around. My answer would be yes. I love the Rod & Spur, Rifle Range, etc.

Same here, for us it's not a status thing which is also why it doesn't bother me that I'm not there yet. RR is our biggest purchase, my wife loves the Moppa, we love the P.S. Marion and I get some RS and Semillon.

For the money there so many similar wines out there even better ones. Never understood why they are trying to create such exclusivity ?!?

Here's two sides to the same coin;
- People who haven't followed the Rockford story would (understandably) see it as an exclusive club you have to 'qualify for' (because you do)
- My understanding was that Robert wanted to create something that rewarded long time supporters

So same thing from two different points of view

[phillisc]

There is a no BP on the mailer, it is on the one later in the year. (and only for Stonewallers). I see it like the SVS stuff, even if you are a Stonewaller you can't order them via mail order.

Stonewallers (who may have been on the list for decades and bought hundreds of bottles of their wines) have to actually go to the winery to buy SVS? So you might live in Darwin and have to fly to Adelaide and hire a car to purchase?

Whereas some South Australian who happens to live nearby can go there and purchase multiple times? I means seriously, WTF?

If that is truly the case I am out regardless

Cheers

Michael

Michael, understand the frustration, and having to travel a long way for a winery exclusive is a pain, but think the winery is actually trying to get you to come to the CD.
I don't think its the case that Stonewallers who live in Adelaide can buy repeated allocations of SVS's or BP for that matter...unless they are doing it on the sly and there are many ways for that to be done. There are plenty of bogus names, dual accounts, people doing a quick dash up to the winery multiple times, those who pay in cash...hell when I was there last year, a chap asked me to get him some extra SVS's and tried to give me some money.
In the end the winery probably doesn't care, they just wish to sell their wine, but feel some responsibility that stocks are evenly distributed.

Interestingly, my first records on the computer of purchases at the CD was in 1987 (must have been a commodore 64), but now since the data base has been updated, they only have me back to 01. Whenever I have been to the Stonewallers, they ask me for my ID, punch the purchases into the computer and then I pay. I guess it gives them an opportunity to look at recent purchases, to see if I have double dipped, and potentially refuse me.

Cheers
Craig

[platinum]

Michael Is correct. Too many other fantastic wineries

[Mike Hawkins]

Interesting Craig... I've never been asked for ID, and I may have double dipped in the past too (post 1/3)

[George Krashos]

My understanding is that they are happy for mailing list customers to order 6 BP off the list and then after 1/3 when it is on general release, to come to cellar door and buy 3 more.

-- George Krashos

[phillisc]

Interesting Craig... I've never been asked for ID, and I may have double dipped in the past too (post 1/3)

Mike apologies here, and a little clarity.
Its the practices of those who come to the CD several times that I have observed, either repeat visits to the Stonewall cellar or the public CD.
I was down at my cellar last week and bumped into a chap who happily confided that he has done multiple visits to the CD to pick up 4 dozen of the 2012...just wondering how he managed to do this??

Cheers
Craig

[Redav]

Based on the three bottle limit, (12 x 4) / 2 = 16 visits. Even if that's split between him and a partner, you'd expect that you might be recognised after a few visits?

But they encourage people to visit the CD

[Mike Hawkins]

My situation is along the lines George describes.

That said, having seen the zoo that is cellar door in early March, the staff would have no idea who is buying multiple times. There are so many people there on weekends

[George Krashos]

You wouldn't be able to make multiple BP purchases at Stonewall cellar. They track your code there. The chap with the multiple dozens has ghosted into the public cellar door on several occasions. If it's ridiculously busy - as it often gets on a Saturday and Sunday - he could conceivably go morning and afternoon! I love BP but 6-9 is plenty for me. Lots of other great wines out there to buy and try.

-- George Krashos

[Michael McNally]

To wrap this up, I rang them and asked if I could order 3 of the BP with my order and they were happy to do that. I also ordered a Black Shiraz for Xmas (could have ordered 3). I have only been on the list for 2+ years. If it's not on the list, give them a call!

Cheers

Michael

[Scotty vino]

To wrap this up, I rang them and asked if I could order 3 of the BP with my order and they were happy to do that. I also ordered a Black Shiraz for Xmas (could have ordered 3). I have only been on the list for 2+ years. If it's not on the list, give them a call!

Cheers

Michael

But there's other wineries and other wines!!
That's great mate. Honestly I've always found the rockford staff really friendly and accommodating.
I recently had some delivery address issues and they were quite helpful in sorting it out.

[Michael McNally]

But there's other wineries and other wines!!
That's great mate. Honestly I've always found the rockford staff really friendly and accommodating.
I recently had some delivery address issues and they were quite helpful in sorting it out.

Ha Ha. Very droll.

If they'll let me buy a few BP and BS then my issue with them is resolved, and I'm not one to hold a grudge...... much.

Cheers

Michael