TN: 2000 Rockford BP Shiraz

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:10 pm

I tried this wine last week and rather than posting under the weekly drinking reports (the Sunday TORB post), I think this wine needed its own thread for the feedback I was looking for.

A colleague and I opened the 2000 Rockford BP Shiraz on Wednesday and I didn't have my first taste until four hours later. My first impressions gave way to a very disappointing nose, considering the hype and reputation of Rockford (this was my first Rockford wine). However, I did find the mouth feel much better than the nose impressions, with that typical (I now know) basket press texture and tannins. The wine was recorked and approached at 24 hour intervals for the following three days! Each time we had a glass and commented about how the wine was evolving. Every time the nose had improved, markedly so on the final day, displaying a very rich, concentrated fruit aroma with subtle use of oak. The wine had mellowed even further in the mouth and was very pleasant to drink.

As Adair found with the same vintage Cab Sauv from Rockford, I also noticed port nuances and a dark berry nose from this Shiraz. I did find that the nose changed considerably (for the better) after being opened for four days. This to me indicates some interesting results - quite possibly very good ones - for a lot more time in the bottle. Despite such a poor vintage, the wine may still display the same ageing potential as other BP Shiraz, but perhaps not the same 'sensationality' as others from better years. Perhaps, given the same air time, the Cab Sauv that Adair reviewed may have changed somewhat.

I'm looking forward to trying the '98 Moppa Springs and will try and wrap my hands around a bottle of '99 BP Shiraz in the not so distant future.

Cheers,

707 · Post by **707** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:44 pm

Max, 2000 is the "weakest" vintage in the Barossa for a dozen years and the BP suffers and it off its usual high standard. I haven't had the wine for some time but from memory I found it a bit light but still full of interesting nuances. BP is always a wine that needs alot of ageing to really blossom.

The last really ordinary vintage in the Barossa was 1989 and at the time we thought the BP was a reflection of the vintage. It has been a surprise how well bottles of the 89 BP have drunk in recent times which just backs up giving them lots of time.

I'll be interested to see how your 99 BP opens as IMO it's an under rated vintage in the Barossa.

Mike Hawkins · Post by **Mike Hawkins** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:04 am

I've had five bottles (375ml) of the 99 in the past 6 months. It is a super BP - almost as good as the 91 IMO.

GrahamB · Post by **GrahamB** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 2:03 pm

Max

Don't go drinking all the good stuff on the other side of the ditch. Remember your friends on the big island and save some for your next trip home.

Graham

markg · Post by **markg** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:26 pm

Mike Hawkins wrote:I've had five bottles (375ml) of the 99 in the past 6 months. It is a super BP - almost as good as the 91 IMO.

Absolutely Mike, the 1999 is an underated BP !

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:11 pm

Mr B,

As I recollect, duty free will only let me bring through two bottles into Australia, whereas you can go over six coming this way. So perhaps you should be the one saving bottles for when you come over here! Don't worry, I'll keep some surprises up my sleeve. Staff price is a beautiful thing.

I've been invited to what I'm sure will be a massive wine night tomorrow evening with some fellow 'wine enthusiasts' - namely colleagues from work. Rumour has it there'll be a magnum of Tattinger, a magnum of Cape Mentelle, along with a Jeroboam of something. I'm going to introduce these kiwis to some Noon and aged Thomas Hardy - the '96. Will write a full report once I've recovered from my hangover.

Make sure you don't go pinching Craig's wines with him out of the house now will you...

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:25 am

Maximus wrote:Mr B,

As I recollect, duty free will only let me bring through two bottles into Australia, whereas you can go over six coming this way. So perhaps you should be the one saving bottles for when you come over here! Don't worry, I'll keep some surprises up my sleeve. Staff price is a beautiful thing.

I have been bring 6 bottles of wines back to Australia on many occasions without any problems. I always declare my wines to custom officals.