2015 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz

Nearly 30 parcels of old, dry-grown fruit from some of the finest grape-growing families in the Barossa. Open-fermented and matured in American and French oak for nearly 2 years. Deep colour; arguably the Barossa's most emblematic shiraz, faithfully reflecting the best features of a seamless assembly of district flavours picked at precisely the right time. This is fruit talking, not alcohol, not oak, not rough tannins.

James Halliday

Published 12 July 2021

THE STORY

Robert O’Callaghan’s evocative Rockford Basket Press Shiraz is a tribute to the Barossa’s 19th and early 20th-century heritage.

Made from grapes sourced from 60 to 140-year-old dry-grown vineyards (most from independent growers) across a range of Barossa soils, altitudes and micro-climates, the wine represents a rare and important post-colonial Australian aesthetic.

This soft and medium bodied style, with an earthy quality showing through bottle age, echoes the landscape of the Barossa and references the great mid 20th-century wines of legendary winemaker Colin Preece.

Labour-intensive winemaking practices, a culture of craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail culminate in one of Australia’s greatest and most-loved wines

THE WINEMAKING

Fruit is hand picked then vinified using classic Barossa techniques including a 19th-century wooden Bagshaw crusher, open fermentation and basket pressing. Matured primarily in seasoned 300-litre French and American oak hogsheads and 2500-litre vats for two years.

THE WINE

Neatly juxtaposed between powerful and elegant, the Rockford Basket Press Shiraz is beautifully tensioned with exquisite dark berry fruits, inky complexity, underlying roasted chestnut notes and long, muscular but precise tannins.