Rockford’s Basket Press shiraz has few peers. The opportunity to taste together the 2010 vintage, perhaps the strongest shiraz vintage in the Barossa Valley of recent times, and the 2009, also a very good vintage if the heat was managed well, proved irresistible. Interestingly, I felt that the 2009 vintage was the stronger of the two wines, at least on this tasting.
Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2010
The 2010 “Basket Press” is still youthful, and has some jumpy aromatics of currant, chocolate, plums and spirit. The palate is more settled with medium acidity and a brooding expression of currant, plum, spice, fruit sweetness and a between medium and long length finish. The 2010, I would suggest, is probably too young to drink, and will benefit from at least 5 years in the cellar for the wine to come together. That said, it’s clearly very good wine though due to its length and depth of youthful and brooding fruit flavours. Very Good
Abv: 14.5%
Price: $90+
Vendors: Check http://www.wine-searcher.com/
Website: http://www.rockfordwines.com.au
Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2009
The 2009 “Basket Press” is immediately more alluring than the 2010 at this stage of its life, with aromatics of leather, dark plums, dried herbs and wood spice. This alluring character carries through to the palate, with flavours reminding of deep juicy plums, currants and a long finish. The 2009 is a balanced wine that is able to be enjoyed now, but I suspect has a considerable life ahead of it, and will improve further in the bottle. This is an outstanding Basket Press release. Outstanding
Abv: 14.5%
Price: $130+
Vendors: Check http://www.wine-searcher.com/
Website: http://www.rockfordwines.com.au
Tasted: 2013
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