Is Rockford Basket Press Worth the Fuss?

[Jimmya]

BP worth it, yes, but I tasted a wine later that day ( a clue, incredibly close to home) that blew it out of the park...and was cheaper.

Aren't you the coy one.

Yeah! Name names!

[phillisc]

BP worth it, yes, but I tasted a wine later that day ( a clue, incredibly close to home) that blew it out of the park...and was cheaper.

Aren't you the coy one.

Yeah! Name names!

No problems at all Mahmoud and Jimmya...lets say its a chip off the old block (No not St Hallett) but Travis Earth (O'Callaghan) Robert's son.
Will report in a day or two, but lets just say the best tasting I have had this year.
Cheers Craig.

[JamieBahrain]

Not much cheaper than BP?

I recall twenty years ago one of the boys went out with his own label. It wasn't in this presentation though.

https://travisearth.com.au/wine/

[phillisc]

Yes both Travis and Tim (Diggers Bluff) were regulars at the Rockford CD in the 90s. Tim seems to have dropped off with no recent releases of his 'dog name theme' e.g. lost dog GSM wines. Digger was a dog I believe.
Cheers Craig

[JamieBahrain]

2006 tonight was much better- needing aeration to blow off coffee oak and settle the fruit.

I can blame the devilish Rockford cork variation again on the modest prior showing of an 06.

[JamieBahrain]

Had another 2002 Rockford Basket Press last night and it is showing a lot of development in its medium frame. Pristine choc-red fruits will soon be a memory on this showing- as a little portiness and raisin comes through.

Had the 02 BP alongside a Yalumba Octavius 2002 which had far more concentration and fruit depth- and many years to go! Oak was not up to its reputation. I've only a few experiences with the wine and I'd shunned it because of its nickname being "Oaktavius".

[Mike Hawkins]

Had another 2002 Rockford Basket Press last night and it is showing a lot of development in its medium frame. Pristine choc-red fruits will soon be a memory on this showing- as a little portiness and raisin comes through.

Had the 02 BP alongside a Yalumba Octavius 2002 which had far more concentration and fruit depth- and many years to go! Oak was not up to its reputation. I've only a few experiences with the wine and I'd shunned it because of its nickname being "Oaktavius".

They’ve dialled back the oak massively. I think they’ve also increased the percentage of Eden Valley fruit based on comparisons of the 2015 and some from the 90s (which is a good thing for my palate).

[thomashouseman]

So I opened an 02 and an 03 BP in the last few weeks. Both superb. Barossa in a bottle. Reckon they'd both go quite a bit longer in the bottle if you wanted to even though the cellar door recommended drinking them soonish (They have to say that don't they?! )

[JamieAdelaide]

Anyone have any idea what the Rockford SVS wines are worth these days? I have cellared 3 x 96 SVS for my in-laws. Perfectly cellared. They aren’t fine wine drinkers and I thought I’d encourage them to sell. Must be Hoffmann, Moorooroo & Flaxman bottlings. Magnificent wines.

[phillisc]

Anyone have any idea what the Rockford SVS wines are worth these days? I have cellared 3 x 96 SVS for my in-laws. Perfectly cellared. They aren’t fine wine drinkers and I thought I’d encourage them to sell. Must be Hoffmann, Moorooroo & Flaxman bottlings. Magnificent wines.

98 Hoffman that never actually made it to CD and all went to a Swedish?? importer ( mate of Robert's) was commanding $500.
Most of the wines sit round the $300 mark, although some are pushing up.
2018 BP is fetching $160-180 go figure...
I have same 3 pack, but will be drinking mine.
Who knows, set the reserve at a grand and see who bites
Cheers Craig

[JamieAdelaide]

I still have the three pack. I drank another a decade ago in a spectacular Basket Press event I hosted in Hong Kong atop the HSBC Building. The Moorrooroo was not going to get better for mine.

The dinner theme was what better, BP the sum of its components or the individual vineyards? I also had a letter from Rockfords explaining the myth of the 98 winemaker’s reserve! Superb wine scene in HK. I miss it!

[phillisc]

Yep, not sure on the 2010 WMR...apparently there have been other vintages. Just have the regular editions.
I am still shitty that I missed the one off winemakers reserve of the inaugural 1982 Wynns John Riddoch.
Someone might know, but apparently even a few imperials were bottled.

cheers Craig

[mjs]

Just an observation. My wine mates group was in the Barossa for a long weekend on the Anzac Day weekend a few weeks ago now and we planned the first stop on the Saturday at Rockford at 11am opening time. Got there are 10:56am and were surprised to see about 40 ppl queued up to get in. Wtf? So, we drove on to Charlie Melton's and had a good tasting there instead. Went back to Rockford early afternoon and the "concierge" there informed us there would be a 45 min wait. Wtf? Usual three bottle limit on BP, but I wanted to taste the Rifle Range. We left unfortunately, I suspect hype over substance. Have obviously developed a compelling brand with the BP, but is it just because of hype? CD not for me it seems.

[phillisc]

Malcolm, tend to agree with your assessment. Lot of hype at Rockford. The business model clearly works for them, was there last month, you can't even park out front anymore. I sympathise, it's a winery that I would never go to unless I had an appointment. Going to look at 2-3 more vintages and then someone else can take over the mailer.
Cheers Craig

[mjs]

I drank another a decade ago in a spectacular Basket Press event I hosted in Hong Kong atop the HSBC Building.

The dinner theme was what better, BP the sum of its components or the individual vineyards? I also had a letter from Rockfords explaining the myth of the 98 winemaker’s reserve! Superb wine scene in HK. I miss it!

Jamie,
I can just imagine an event at the top of that building, the “fragrant harbour” laid out before you. Alas, I fear that those days are gone, HK has changed. Spent some intermittent time there over the years with work, first time in ‘81, last time ‘17. No longer now though.
Cheers, Malcolm

[JamieAdelaide]

Surprised you aren’t a Stonewaller Malcom? Certainly a pleasant way to taste.

Yeah Hong King is heartbreaking. Without exaggeration half of my good friends have left. I reckon the Singaporeans should drop duty and takeover as Asia’s wine hub. The communist thugs can go back to drinking red wine and coke.

[daver6]

Just an observation. My wine mates group was in the Barossa for a long weekend on the Anzac Day weekend a few weeks ago now and we planned the first stop on the Saturday at Rockford at 11am opening time. Got there are 10:56am and were surprised to see about 40 ppl queued up to get in. Wtf? So, we drove on to Charlie Melton's and had a good tasting there instead. Went back to Rockford early afternoon and the "concierge" there informed us there would be a 45 min wait. Wtf? Usual three bottle limit on BP, but I wanted to taste the Rifle Range. We left unfortunately, I suspect hype over substance. Have obviously developed a compelling brand with the BP, but is it just because of hype? CD not for me it seems.

Their cellar door space isn't large to start with. That coupled with BP being released to the public a few weeks earlier would have increase crowds I suspect. Additionally, were there still capacity restrictions in the cellar door due to Covid restrictions?

[Scotty vino]

Took some Singaporean friends to rockford recently and did the Stone Wall experience.
Was just us in the tasting room one on one.
The standard cellar door didn't look incredibly busy but there was definitely some wait time involved.
I generally make an appointment for the stone wall mid week if I think there's chance ill be roaming the BV area.
For a time there was no tasting thru covid chaos and it was a walk in and purchase kinda deal from the kennel.

I haven't been fraternising with rockford since the dawn of time like some of you but the traffic element has definitely increased in the 10-12 yrs I've been lurking about.

[sjw_11]

Just an observation. My wine mates group was in the Barossa for a long weekend on the Anzac Day weekend a few weeks ago now and we planned the first stop on the Saturday at Rockford at 11am opening time. Got there are 10:56am and were surprised to see about 40 ppl queued up to get in. Wtf? So, we drove on to Charlie Melton's and had a good tasting there instead. Went back to Rockford early afternoon and the "concierge" there informed us there would be a 45 min wait. Wtf? Usual three bottle limit on BP, but I wanted to taste the Rifle Range. We left unfortunately, I suspect hype over substance. Have obviously developed a compelling brand with the BP, but is it just because of hype? CD not for me it seems.

That is astonishing and kind of sad