Rockford
Black Barossa Valley Shiraz
Barossa Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
Sparkling Shiraz is an Australian specialty and this Rockford Black is one of the best examples and hard to obtain. This is sold out every year by loyal Rockford members on the mailing list and only available through secondary sources at twice the cellar door price as I did. Lovely cherry foam after pouring. The product of old vine Shiraz fruit with rich black plum and chocolate flavours showing through the bubbles. Undoubtedly one of Australia’s best Sparkling Shiraz - up there with Seppelt Great Western. Derived from the renowned Rockford Basket Press Shiraz. Wonderful stuff and one of the tasting highlights of the last few weeks, up there with the ‘89 Mouton.
Sparkling Shiraz is an Australian specialty and this Rockford Black is one of the best examples and hard to obtain. This is sold out every year by loyal Rockford members on the mailing list and only available through secondary sources at twice the cellar door price as I did. Lovely cherry foam after pouring. The product of old vine Shiraz fruit with rich black plum and chocolate flavours showing through the bubbles. Undoubtedly one of Australia’s best Sparkling Shiraz - up there with Seppelt Great Western. Derived from the renowned Rockford Basket Press Shiraz. Wonderful stuff and one of the tasting highlights of the last few weeks, up there with the ‘89 Mouton.
Mar 13th, 2022Sparkling Shiraz is a tradition on Christmas Day in Australia and is a great match with Roast Turkey and Baked Glazed Ham. A foamy mousse amongst the dark Ruby red colour. Aromas of blackberry plum and spices. A wonderful palate - sweet and rich with soft velvety tannins. Plenty of life and freshness with red and black fruits. Just plain delicious. My only bottle sadly and I hope I have the willpower to leave my 2004 until next Christmas. These Rockford Blacks are rare birds even in Australia. Disgorged 2002. Postscript: Only purchased in mid 2020 from a private cellar.
Sparkling Shiraz is a tradition on Christmas Day in Australia and is a great match with Roast Turkey and Baked Glazed Ham. A foamy mousse amongst the dark Ruby red colour. Aromas of blackberry plum and spices. A wonderful palate - sweet and rich with soft velvety tannins. Plenty of life and freshness with red and black fruits. Just plain delicious. My only bottle sadly and I hope I have the willpower to leave my 2004 until next Christmas. These Rockford Blacks are rare birds even in Australia. Disgorged 2002. Postscript: Only purchased in mid 2020 from a private cellar.
Dec 25th, 2020
Happy Australian Christmas! 🎄🎁🦌🎅🤶⛄️❄️
After bringing this Rockford Black Barossa Sparkling Shiraz back from Australia and holding It for nearly two years as was recommended by their Winemaker, it’s finally ready for Christmas breakfast as is traditional in Australia. What a beauty she has turned out to be! Much softer and intergraded than it was in their tasting room.
It’s hard to find Sparkling Shiraz in the US, let alone a good one!!! This one is quite tasty.
It’s a beautiful sunny Christmas morning with Nat King Cole singing, “White Christmas” in the background.
The nose reveals; black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries, mix dark berry liqueur notes, sweet tar, whiff of white and black pepper, saddle-wood, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender.
The body is full & rich. The fruits are beautifully ripe. The structure, tension, length and balance are finding their way but, will still benefit from a few years in the cellar. It also has a sound tannin structure, which is not found in champagnes and most sparkling wines. Black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries, black cherry, plum, mix dark berry liqueur notes, whiff of white and black pepper, dark spice with some palate heat, saddle-wood, a leathery quality, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender. The acidity is round and well executed. The well polished finish is a nice balance of dark fruit & earthiness and is persistent for minutes.
Merry Christmas everyone!!! 🎄🎁🤶🎅🦌⛄️❄️🍾🍷🎶
@Bob McDonald Delicious!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Happy Australian Christmas! 🎄🎁🦌🎅🤶⛄️❄️
After bringing this Rockford Black Barossa Sparkling Shiraz back from Australia and holding It for nearly two years as was recommended by their Winemaker, it’s finally ready for Christmas breakfast as is traditional in Australia. What a beauty she has turned out to be! Much softer and intergraded than it was in their tasting room.
It’s hard to find Sparkling Shiraz in the US, let alone a good one!!! This one is quite tasty.
It’s a beautiful sunny Christmas morning with Nat King Cole singing, “White Christmas” in the background.
The nose reveals; black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries, mix dark berry liqueur notes, sweet tar, whiff of white and black pepper, saddle-wood, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender.
The body is full & rich. The fruits are beautifully ripe. The structure, tension, length and balance are finding their way but, will still benefit from a few years in the cellar. It also has a sound tannin structure, which is not found in champagnes and most sparkling wines. Black currants, blackberries, black plum, olallieberries, black cherry, plum, mix dark berry liqueur notes, whiff of white and black pepper, dark spice with some palate heat, saddle-wood, a leathery quality, wafting vanillin, soft limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, steeped fruit tea, light herbaceous notes, dark withering flowers, violets and a shade of lavender. The acidity is round and well executed. The well polished finish is a nice balance of dark fruit & earthiness and is persistent for minutes.
Merry Christmas everyone!!! 🎄🎁🤶🎅🦌⛄️❄️🍾🍷🎶
@Bob McDonald Delicious!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Our first wine in the Langtons Outstanding category at the September 2018 tasting. Sparkling Shiraz is an Australian specialty and this is one of the best examples.
Our first wine in the Langtons Outstanding category at the September 2018 tasting. Sparkling Shiraz is an Australian specialty and this is one of the best examples.
Sep 19th, 2018
These were a rare treat. Both disgorged in 1994 and having rested on cork in Chris Ringland’s cellar ever since. Still fresh and primal but with some beautiful earthen notes poking through. There’s even a residual lick of vintage port on the back palate from liquoring. Fantastic.
These were a rare treat. Both disgorged in 1994 and having rested on cork in Chris Ringland’s cellar ever since. Still fresh and primal but with some beautiful earthen notes poking through. There’s even a residual lick of vintage port on the back palate from liquoring. Fantastic.
1 person found it helpfulDec 31st, 2018
Breakfast of champions!!!
This beautiful piece of Rockford history was an absolute pleasure to savour.
Tiraged in 1988 and disgorged 2016 with loads of old Barossa style and classy and smooth texture.
Breakfast of champions!!!
This beautiful piece of Rockford history was an absolute pleasure to savour.
Tiraged in 1988 and disgorged 2016 with loads of old Barossa style and classy and smooth texture.
Freshly disgorged and incredibly welcoming! We managed to score an 88' vintage disgorged 2016. Can't wait to see where it's at after 25+ years on lees!!
Freshly disgorged and incredibly welcoming! We managed to score an 88' vintage disgorged 2016. Can't wait to see where it's at after 25+ years on lees!!
1 person found it helpfulNov 24th, 2017
Love this wine. Perfect with Peking duck.
Love this wine. Perfect with Peking duck.
1 person found it helpfulMar 9th, 2014First, let me remind everyone of three things. Sparkling Shiraz is hard to find in the US. Second, it's even harder to find good ones. Third, drinking Sparkling Shiraz on Christmas in Australia is a must and close to law. I found my bottle to take home and have three Christmas's from now. Sacha from Rockford informed me that this needs about three years of cellaring to hit it's peak and I'm one to wait. This was very good. It spends a fair amount of time in oak and is made from 30 wines. The oldest wine in it is 43 years old. Similar to how good champagne is created. The fruits are ripe & bright; black plums, blueberries, black raspberries, soft minerals, a little chalk, and decent acidity. The final dosage is vintage port. Delicious! Photos of their barrel room and another view of their courtyard.
First, let me remind everyone of three things. Sparkling Shiraz is hard to find in the US. Second, it's even harder to find good ones. Third, drinking Sparkling Shiraz on Christmas in Australia is a must and close to law. I found my bottle to take home and have three Christmas's from now. Sacha from Rockford informed me that this needs about three years of cellaring to hit it's peak and I'm one to wait. This was very good. It spends a fair amount of time in oak and is made from 30 wines. The oldest wine in it is 43 years old. Similar to how good champagne is created. The fruits are ripe & bright; black plums, blueberries, black raspberries, soft minerals, a little chalk, and decent acidity. The final dosage is vintage port. Delicious! Photos of their barrel room and another view of their courtyard.
Apr 17th, 2017Its Rockford, its Barossa and its Sparkling Shiraz. Enough said.
Its Rockford, its Barossa and its Sparkling Shiraz. Enough said.
Mar 24th, 2017