TVS: Rockford Cellar Door – Monday 19th January 2004

[Adair]

Hello All,

Once again, whilst I was in Adelaide on business, I was able to put aside a little time to visit my favourite cellar door, Rockford. As Angela is away with new baby, I was greeted today by Jenny OÂ’Callaghan, sister of Robert. Although she dud not have the wine knowledge of other Rockford dwellers, she was full of stories from RockfordÂ’s foundation and before, and with the typical, almost expected, Barossa/Rockford hospitality, made the visit to Krondorf Road once again memorable.


1995/1996 Rockford Chardonnay/Pinot Noir Sparkling White: Disgorged 2001: ($16.50)
I have previous commented how impressed I am with this wine and this tasting only reinforced that impression. The wine is starting to develop more honeyed characters which will only benefit the wine, and on top of the huge fruit and other flavour depth, remember it was on lees for 4-5 years and possesses a long, strong yet fine acid structure, this wine makes an absolute mockery of its $16.50 per bottle price. Although I am on a very strict wine budget, I still found money to purchase two bottles. Rated as Highly Recommended, it could step up a notch with a yearÂ’s more bottle age.

Interestingly, and so typically in line with the philosophy of Rockford, this wine was made to help out a friend, and as such, there are no other Sparkling Whites from Rockford in the wings.


2001 Rockford Eden Valley Riesling: ($17.50)
This is another wine that I have tried before and am most fond. Although I would rate some of the top, more delicate Clare and Eden Valley Riesling higher, this is my favourite Australian Riesling that is made in the more fruit full, more skin contact, and with slightly more residual sugar (although still dry in technical terms – my palate picks up sugar like it is ammonia) style. The label mentions that it is made in the traditional Hockenheim style but I am not experienced to make any comparative comment. A wine that would be full of interest to the Australian palate. Rated as Highly Recommended.


2001 Rockford Local Growers Semillon: ($16.50)
When I last visited Rockford, in early October 2003, I tried the 2000. I loved the 2000 for its creamy palate and flavour complexity. I am sure that the 2001 will be a better wine in time but I enjoyed the 2000 more for present drinking. The 2001 displays excellent fruit quality and white winemaking ability. Was 2001 in the Eden Valley underrated? The oak is beautifully complimentary. The 2001Â’s length, given by its more defined acid backbone, is more impressive and provides the wine with exceptional aging properties, but those developed characters, that the 2000 already has have yet to develop. The 2001 wine could become Excellent in time but is rated Recommended at the moment. Drink from 2005 to 2010. Maybe I should rate it more on potential?


2003 Rockford Alicante Bouchet: ($15.00)
Acid is balancing the sweetness better than when tasted in October 2003 but it is still sweeter than the 2002 and not my style. The smooth palate of uninhibited sweet, ripe, red cherries still enables this wine to be rated Highly Recommended for those who like the style.


1999 Rockford Moppa Springs: Grenache / Shiraz / Mataro: ($21.50)
I had my first corked wine at the Rockford Cellar Door. A fresh bottle was quickly opened and once again this wine showed its quality. So smooth yet enable to control the jammy tendencies of Grenache with savoury characters. Long. One of only a few Grenache dominant Australian wines I enjoy. This wine also shows the quality Grenache in 1999, while the fact that there is still some at the Cellar Door also shows that yields were high. Rated as Highly Recommended.


2001 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon: ($32)
Stonewallers please help. I visited the Rockford Cellar Door on the first Monday of October 2003. The Basket Press and the Black Shiraz had been released but this wine, which is now sold out, and the 2001 Rod & Spur had yet to be delivered to the Cellar Door. They were due for the Wednesday. By the time I submitted my Order Form to get a case, it was all gone. I have yet to taste this wine and, given the praises placed on it by Rockford, I dearly want to. Anybody with this wine willing to do a trade?


2001 Rockford Rod & Spur: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon / 33% Shiraz: ($28)
Have we all missed something here???!!! This wine was absolutely brilliant. The Cabernet Sauvignon component has increased from the previous years due to its quality, and while the Shiraz is from younger vines than what goes into the Basket Press, the Cabernet is the same as the Rifle Range. This might also explain why I missed out on the Rifle Range. This wine is significantly better than the 2000 with the fruit already dominating the charry oak that was so prominent and out of balance in the 2000. The fruit is fruit ripe and tarry with great depth, breadth and length. Rated as Excellent, worth every cent at $28 and even if you are not a Stonewaller, I recommend you get a six-pack.


2001 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz: ($43)
I was slightly disappointed with this wine after the Rod & Spur. It was definitely more backwards than when tasted in October 2003 but the technical components of integrated acid and tannins were still there. I should note that this wine was only opened upon my arrival and despite Jenny giving the wine the GaryW decanter shake, this might explain its showing. Rated as Highly Recommended.


P.S. Marion Tawny: ($25)
I rarely take much note of this wine as I am not usually a fan of fortified wines, but as I was driving and was only going to visit two wineries today, I gave it more of a chance and was most impressed. The wine had thick, sweet layers of aged complexities on top of great underlying acidity taking the flavours and the finish a long, long way. As well as beautiful nuttiness, it provided an amazingly intense aftertaste of coffee and toffee.

Apparently Robert is a bit disappointed that this wine does not get the credit of some of his other wines and I can definitely understand. Rated as Excellent if you like a bit of thickness, sweetness and complexity in your life. At $25, another Rockford bargain.


1997 Rockford VP: ($65)
Every time I taste this wine, its gets more harmonious and enjoyable. The wine would fool some tasters as a greatly powerful Shiraz, so balanced is the wineÂ’s alcohol and fruit power. The tannins that were so prevalent 8 months ago have also been soaked up by the intensely ripe Shiraz fruit and enable the wine to keep going and going on the palate. Rated as Excellent/Outstanding, although will age for decades, it is a mighty fine drink now for those who like their Shiraz big and bold. At $65, it is on the expensive side of VPs these days but in terms of top Barossa Shiraz from which this wine is made, it is quite reasonable. Worth buying at least one bottle to experience now and another to put away.


The 2003 Rockford White Frontignac ($12.50) and Rockford Black Shiraz (2003 disgorged) ($53) were also sold out, as was the re-release of the 1997 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon that I tasted and purchased back in October 2003.

Kind regards,
Adair

[Popov]

2001 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon: ($32)
Stonewallers please help. I visited the Rockford Cellar Door on the first Monday of October 2003. The Basket Press and the Black Shiraz had been released but this wine, which is now sold out, and the 2001 Rod & Spur had yet to be delivered to the Cellar Door. They were due for the Wednesday. By the time I submitted my Order Form to get a case, it was all gone. I have yet to taste this wine and, given the praises placed on it by Rockford, I dearly want to. Anybody with this wine willing to do a trade?
Kind regards,
Adair

Adair,

I have been sitting on my order since getting the newsletter due to purchasing a house and waiting to see if I had enough money lying around, and I was going to send it off this week. I was really interested in the Cabernet also.
Will have to change the order - might go with your suggestion and order a few more of the Rod & Spur.

Cheers
Popov

[Adair]

Fair call Gavin.

I have no issues with deleting George's and your last posts.

George,

Thanks for your post though - in the last 5 minutes I just arranged to get one bottle!!! I am now happy.

Adair

[George Krashos]

I apologise if I broke the 'code of conduct' in posting details of other wine retailers. It was done with the genuine intention of helping a fellow Rockford devotee and certainly not intended to take away any business from Gavin. I'll think first before posting next time.

-- George Krashos

[Gavin Trott]

I apologise if I broke the 'code of conduct' in posting details of other wine retailers. It was done with the genuine intention of helping a fellow Rockford devotee and certainly not intended to take away any business from Gavin. I'll think first before posting next time.

-- George Krashos

George

No dramas from me, best of intentions I'm sure.