The Auswine Forum

2011 BP $59
BS $61
2012 RR $41
2011 R&S $33
2010 Moppa $27

And a lovely read in the Rockford Rag as always. They are saying the BP is lighter in colour and alc and a more fruit forward style and was hard work to produce.

So much for me saying there wouldn't be any 2011 BP

Cool, will look forward to it being at home

Although it always reminds me that I am not a stonewaller and have to buy my basket press at inflated secondary market prices

Dave, does it mention anything about using pressings juice in the BP to boost it's vibrancy?

Was talking to the winery a few days ago and by all accounts the vintage is looking pretty good (read into that what you will)..I am not sold the '11 BP will be a winner though so most of my funds will be put into the '12 RR. And a couple BS..

Heading up there in about 3 weeks so will have a first hand look at the range and go from there.

Oh, and good to see the prices have remained relatively unchanged ( a buck here and there)

Hacker wrote:Dave, does it mention anything about using pressings juice in the BP to boost it's vibrancy?

They mention using the pressings, but no mention to boost vibrancy. They mention that they used the Pressings of some vineyards but not the free run juice and vice versa in the final blends.

Oh and I should say, I haven't tried the Moppa but have seen plenty of people here give it a rap and suggest it is good. Sounds like pretty good value at $27 for the 2010??

maybs wrote:Oh and I should say, I haven't tried the Moppa but have seen plenty of people here give it a rap and suggest it is good. Sounds like pretty good value at $27 for the 2010??

Yep had it last night. Great drop. Make sure it is a nice 18C otherwise it turns quite tart and thin if too warm as I found out. I'd left it on the kitchen bench and the house got up to 26C indoors.

Do non stonewallers get this mailer? I was under the impression I would receive my next one in the new year. I just got my last one in June I think.

I am not a stonewaller and was told the mailer would be out in the next week or two...

Edit** Just checked email and it actually says they will be mailed in November

Hi there, do plan on visiting Barossa later this month and may well drop by Rockford.

Not a stonewaller but if I visit their cellar door could I expect to pick up a some basket press? Or is it strictly sold to stonewaller only regardless of you visiting them directly or not even if you have come from from outer state.

chadnchady wrote: even if you have come from from outer state.

Outer state? never seen it expressed that way before ...
I agree, SA is the centre of the universe and everywhere else is outer state!!

To answer your question, the Basket Press is available for sale at the Cellar Door usually around March (so in this case, March 2015) to non-Stonewallers. There is a limit of 3-bottles per person, at the same price as the mailing list offer. You cannot order by phone or mail, you have to go to the CD itself. Supplies usually last for about a month or so.

If you go before March... well they technically have BP on the premises to sell, but it wont be on tasting... Will they sell you some if you have come from outer state? Depends how nicely you ask I suppose, but my general guess would be perhaps "no".

chadnchady wrote:Hi there, do plan on visiting Barossa later this month and may well drop by Rockford.

Not a stonewaller but if I visit their cellar door could I expect to pick up a some basket press? Or is it strictly sold to stonewaller only regardless of you visiting them directly or not even if you have come from from outer state.

You must be a stonewaller to get access to the basket press and Black Shiraz. If they have any left by about April ish they sell through the CD..

2011 Basket Press...... Given the price I'll probably pass, unless magical reviews come out of no where.

Is this be the second 2011 release? Has there been any reviews for the 2011? Or was it more 2010 released earlier this year? I'm no expert but I'm not sure I'd expect a stellar vintage however, I am still keen on trying some. Looking forward to the Rag arriving. They're usually a good read (which reminds me, I should go back and read the older ones to see where they've come from).

Redav wrote:Is this be the second 2011 release? Has there been any reviews for the 2011? Or was it more 2010 released earlier this year? I'm no expert but I'm not sure I'd expect a stellar vintage however, I am still keen on trying some. Looking forward to the Rag arriving. They're usually a good read (which reminds me, I should go back and read the older ones to see where they've come from).

They split the 2010 BP volume into two releases. My mailer came earlier this week. A good read, in its usual canny folksy-marketing way. I'll be interested to see what the 2011 BP is like, and the Moppa.

Smart marketing move by Rocky to keep the perceived lesser 2011 vintage at the 2010 price.
Equally smart tells me that the wide grape selection on offer plus the claim in the Rag of not releasing a wine if the overall fruit is not up to scratch, means that it will still be at least up to par.

I would not be surprised if the 2012 remains the same price or just one dollar more.
I have had a 92 and 95 BP recently ( both from unheralded vintages) and the 95 was a wonderful bottle with the 92 not far behind.

Cheers Craig

pstarr wrote:They split the 2010 BP volume into two releases.

Ah, righto. I had it in my head that it was the '11 that had two releases

So if the 2011 hits the cellar door March next year, when is the 2011 available to Stonewallers? Now / soon?

Redav wrote:

pstarr wrote:They split the 2010 BP volume into two releases.

Ah, righto. I had it in my head that it was the '11 that had two releases

So if the 2011 hits the cellar door March next year, when is the 2011 available to Stonewallers? Now / soon?

Today

Cheers Craig

Does anyone know if you must buy BP to stay on Stonewaller mailer? I will buy 6 x Black Shiraz but I can't justify short term wines in a cellar thousands of miles away so I'm looking to pass on BP 2011.

I did not buy the first round of 2010 BP release in 2012 and got the mailer the following year.
Based on that premise and that you will be getting some Black Jamie with this years order, can't see why it would not be business as usual.

In 25 years of buying I have never seen in the stonewall "charter" that you must buy, or indeed buy BP every year.
I think despite Rocky's claim that the 2011 should not be completely overlooked, they will understand a 'level of resistance'.

Will probably be the only 2011 wine that I will buy.

Cheers Craig.

phillisc wrote:
Will probably be the only 2011 wine that I will buy.

Cheers Craig.

+1...more out of curiosity to see how good a wine they made. I was down there in 2011 and it wasn't pretty, but if they are confident enough to release it, then I'm a buyer.

*sigh* I'd placed an order on the weekend including some '11 Rifle Range and now the '12 is available. Oh well. Is Oct usually a month they release wines?

Just a hint to any stonewallers, I quite often call them up and enquire on they're cellar door only stuff such as the VP and any museum wines currently on offer and write that in on the order form in the blank line at the bottom. They invariably include that in my order.

Also, has anyone ever been a stonewaller and lost that membership? I haven't heard of it happening but a few posts above now have me worried that if I skip a year I could lose it?!

Thanks,

T.

thomashouseman wrote:Just a hint to any stonewallers

I wonder if they'd do that to any nons? I'd love to replace my wasted Shiraz VP (not realising what it was and how it should be used )

thomashouseman wrote:Also, has anyone ever been a stonewaller and lost that membership? I haven't heard of it happening but a few posts above now have me worried that if I skip a year I could lose it?!

Skipped a year in terms of buying Stonewaller wines or any of their wines? I'd be surprised if it did. It rewards loyalty and their BPS is a cult favourite so I'd imagine there's demand enough that it would still move regardless of whether Stonewallers buy it or it leaves through the cellar door. Maybe if someone stopped buying for a few years but I've not seen a charter.

I see they also have a museum release of the 05 Rifle Range. Any feed back on this particular vintage?

Just went there yesterday. Nup, if not a stonewaller you can't buy even if you're not from SA. Comeback in March was the polite answer.

Tasted both the 12 RR and the 05 RR. Both were good but not much difference. The 05 was only a few $ more so I picked a few of those up.