Rockford BP Verticals

[Mike Hawkins]

In recent times, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a number of Basket Press tastings. Some brief notes:

2012- serious potential, but pretty closed right now

2010 - ditto. I really think these two releases will be fascinating to try side by side in future.

2007 - lightweight and symptomatic of the vintage. Even though it’s young, I don’t think it will get much better.

2006 - something was wrong with this bottle.

2004 - a future star. Still very primary. Screams out ‘Barossa’. Chocolate and plum.

2003 - Tca affected.

2002 - I didn’t expect to like this, as previous bottles have finished a tad hot. That said, this seemed much more balanced. Very youthful, and really only hit its strides after 4 hours of air.

1999- despite the hype, this isn’t in the same league as the top BPs of the decade IMO. Very good, just not great.

1998 - this is getting some lovely secondary characteristics, though had I tasted it blind, I would have guessed Shiraz/Cabernet blend. The only detracting feature was a slight menthol like finish

1996 - cracking wine. For my tastes, just getting into its long drinking window. Lovely finish, particularly with the excellent tannin treatment.

1994 - not my cup of tea. Bit simple and short.

1991 - historically, my favourite BP, but just shaded by the 1990 on the occasion. Superb wine.... the type of wine Barossa Shiraz should aspire to be. Layers of fruit, and a beautiful velvety finish.

1990 - absolutely stunning wine and unanimous WOTN. The nose changed dramatically over the night. Chocolate to earth to cedar to strawberry and flowers. Really fascinating. Another wine that was better after 5 hours of air.

1988 - DOA.

We also had a 2004 Flaxman SVS which remains incredibly primary and a touch ‘in your face’. This will be really good with secondary development as there is some good, but ripe, fruit lurking.

[rooman]

In recent times, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a number of Basket Press tastings. Some brief notes:

2004 - a future star. Still very primary. Screams out ‘Barossa’. Chocolate and plum.

I buried my case of this deep in the cellar based on your recent comments. I'm guessing I should leave it alone for another 5 years or so. Is that still your take?

Mark

[Mike Hawkins]

Absolutely Mark. For my tastes it will be best in 10 years

[rooman]

Absolutely Mark. For my tastes it will be best in 10 years

Thanks.

[JamieBahrain]

Mike just for reference, you cellar your BP professionally since their release?

[felixp21]

Thanks for the notes Mike. Was on the list for 20+ years, but my tastes have changed and I have no tpurchased since about 2002.
Interesting read.

[Mike Hawkins]

Mike just for reference, you cellar your BP professionally since their release?

Yes,but a few weren't mine (98, 02, 03, 07, 12).

[phillisc]

Speaking of verticals has anyone had pre 90s BP lately.
Mike I note that you have commented a couple of times about the 88 being shot. I have a couple of 86s and 87s but have never seen 84, 85, 88 or 89. Equally, they never turn up much on the secondary market.
Guess 1990 onwards would be fairly representative of the style
Cheers
Craig

[Mike Hawkins]

Speaking of verticals has anyone had pre 90s BP lately.
Mike I note that you have commented a couple of times about the 88 being shot. I have a couple of 86s and 87s but have never seen 84, 85, 88 or 89. Equally, they never turn up much on the secondary market.
Guess 1990 onwards would be fairly representative of the style
Cheers
Craig

Thanks Craig - 3 of the last 5 bottles of 88 have been tired or dead, and I've never had the 84 or 85.

The last bottle of 86 was pretty good, but not as good as it was 5 years ago. I plan to revisit this vintage at an 86 horizontal scheduled for later in the year. And I'm saving my last remaining bottle of 89 for a mate's 30th wedding annivesary next year, though I have tempered expectations for it based on a bottle 2 or 3 years ago.

Having tried most vintages, the clear standouts for me are 90 and 91, with a gap to 1996. The older two of those three are, for my palate, on par with pretty much any wines released in those years in Oz, save for possibly 90 HOG and Bin 90a.

Cheers, Mike

[Matt@5453]

In recent times, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a number of Basket Press tastings. Some brief notes:

2012- serious potential, but pretty closed right now

2010 - ditto. I really think these two releases will be fascinating to try side by side in future.

Hi Mike,

when do you think the 2010 will hit its drinking window?
was this the original release or the second 'last chance' release?

thnx

[Mike Hawkins]

In recent times, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a number of Basket Press tastings. Some brief notes:

2012- serious potential, but pretty closed right now

2010 - ditto. I really think these two releases will be fascinating to try side by side in future.

Hi Mike,

when do you think the 2010 will hit its drinking window?
was this the original release or the second 'last chance' release?

thnx

It was the first release from memory. For my tastes, at least 12 more years and possibly 20!

[JamieBahrain]

Rockford Basket Press 1997 is far from past it ! I had a bottle from a passive Mt Macedon cellar last night and the wine is in a long hold. Honest , expressive Shiraz fruit is preserved in long acidity and near resolved tannins. Amazing ! RC would love this vintage as I often heard him laugh off vintage critics at the long stonewaller lunches.

Bravo!

[ticklenow1]

Rockford Basket Press 1997 is far from past it ! I had a bottle from a passive Mt Macedon cellar last night and the wine is in a long hold. Honest , expressive Shiraz fruit is preserved in long acidity and near resolved tannins. Amazing ! RC would love this vintage as I often heard him laugh off vintage critics at the long stonewaller lunches.

Bravo!

We had this a few years back along with a 97 Grange. While the Grange was the better wine, the BP was not at all blown away. It more than had a good showing.

Cheers
Ian

[George Krashos]

Yep, I cracked a 97 over the festive season and it was in lovely, soft balance. Enjoyed it immensely.

-- George Krashos

[felixp21]

97 was a much better year in SA than initially given credit for. Of all the Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz from the 90's, the 97 was actually their best!!!

[Con J]

In recent times, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a number of Basket Press tastings. Some brief notes:

2004 - a future star. Still very primary. Screams out ‘Barossa’. Chocolate and plum.

I buried my case of this deep in the cellar based on your recent comments. I'm guessing I should leave it alone for another 5 years or so. Is that still your take?

Mark

Had one of these last Friday.
Agree still primary with Liquorice, blackberries and some vanilla, I think someone said chocolate bullets, nice wine.

Cheers Con.

[rooman]

I buried my case of this deep in the cellar based on your recent comments. I'm guessing I should leave it alone for another 5 years or so. Is that still your take?

Mark

Had one of these last Friday.
Agree still primary with Liquorice, blackberries and some vanilla, I think someone said chocolate bullets, nice wine.

Cheers Con.

Thanks. I am not sure how other people are finding the 2004 SA vintage but for me, every decent bottle I have opened, whether its a Penny, Henschke,Tally or BP, just seems to be taking forever to develop.

In contrast some of the Yarra wines from the same vintage are just superb now.

I'm curious how are other people finding the '04 SA vintage?

Mark

[Mike Hawkins]

I buried my case of this deep in the cellar based on your recent comments. I'm guessing I should leave it alone for another 5 years or so. Is that still your take?

Mark

Had one of these last Friday.
Agree still primary with Liquorice, blackberries and some vanilla, I think someone said chocolate bullets, nice wine.

Cheers Con.

Thanks. I am not sure how other people are finding the 2004 SA vintage but for me, every decent bottle I have opened, whether its a Penny, Henschke,Tally or BP, just seems to be taking forever to develop.

In contrast some of the Yarra wines from the same vintage are just superb now.

I'm curious how are other people finding the '04 SA vintage?

Mark

Hi Mark,

Gotta say I like my reds on the older side, so verticals aside, I haven’t tasted many yet. I’m probably 5+ years away from their sweet spot for my tastes.

Cheers

Mike

[n4sir]

Some brief notes from the AFWAC four decades of Rockford BP Shiraz tasting last September 2017:

2013 – Lots of power, lots of acidity, still meshing but young, juicy and attractive at this early stage.
2012 – More fleshy than the 2013, softer and rounder, still young but already some complexity. A future classic.
2011 – Some wet vintage characteristics, it has a pretty nose and decent fruit, but not the weight of the first wines.

2006 – Extremely powerful, has some characteristics similar to the 2013 but with more complexity. Excellent.
2005 – Fruit sweet, slightly porty and jammy, with a lighter palate than the surrounding wines. An early drinker.
2004 - A huge vintage, very chocolatey, riper and much more complex than the 2006; has some alcohol warmth.

1996 – Variation between bottles, the best being very complex with heavy vanilla oak and a minerally, dry finish.
1995 – Rustic wine with challenging, feral characters, sweet and sour fruit and high acidity. Not for the faint hearted.
1994 – A classically aged Barossa Shiraz , rich, oily and chocolatey with ripe raspberry fruit and velvety tannins.

1986 – One bottle was cork tainted, the other was superb, a great follow on from the 1994 showing where it may go.
1985 – Again some unfortunate cork influence, but the underlying wine was still very complex, leathery and silky.
1984 – First ever Basket Press: lighter in weight with some unusual capsicum/pickle characters from the cooler year.

Group votes for Vintage of the night:
2004 vintage – 10 votes
1996 vintage – 7 votes
1985 vintage – 4 votes
2006 vintage – 2 votes
1994 vintage – 2 votes
1984 vintage – 2 votes
2012 vintage – 1 vote
2005 vintage – 1 vote
1995 vintage – 1 vote