Rockfords discussion

[RooFlyer]

Relax guys.
Just using a bit of humour to generate some discussion

There's word for that

 

[Daver6]

What?? Wash your mouth out with Jura!

Yes please!

 

[Buzzard]

Basket Press is still available at the cellar door. Well it was on Friday when I was there for lunch.

 

[hwy]

Relax guys.
Just using a bit of humour to generate some discussion

Dr Ev- it is not that hard to get on the list. But a mixed dozen, and then in early March just send a polite email asking if any leftover six packs of BP are left then you will like to get a box. I think I scored that from my second year, and every year thereafter until I made Stonewaller which only took about 5 years in total.
And Rockfords does have enough other stuff that is actually interesting to buy, drink, or cellar so it isn't all that bad or snobby. Give it a go- am sure you will find the staff there quite friendly and honest in their sales appraoch.

 

[olympicwiz]

I sent Rockford an email inquiring about how to purchase their wines in general just for giggles and received the generic response I expected.
I'm in Sydney and unlikely to visit Rockford cellar door in person.

It's way too much effort for me to play the Rockford mailing list game. I never bothered.
Maybe I'm jealous, maybe its sour grapes? (Pun intended)
I'm on plenty of other mailing lists and I just don't need the undignified humiliation of begging to buy a $90 bottle of BP while buying the other stuff they can't sell. It doesn't make sense to me.
I'm happy for Rockford's success, but in recent years there are many as good and better Barossa shiraz imo.
e.g. I have recently loaded up on all four of the 2022 Standish releases at $125 a pop and I'm more than happy.

I didn't find getting on the 3 Rockford BP a year tier too hard. I just called them and asked. They said to go and buy some wine and next year I will be on it. I bought mostly their Eden Rieslings that were a tad pricey but very enjoyable and a sample of their reds. That was it and the next year I was on their "bud" list.

 

[Dr Ev]

Dr Ev- it is not that hard to get on the list. But a mixed dozen, and then in early March just send a polite email asking if any leftover six packs of BP are left then you will like to get a box. I think I scored that from my second year, and every year thereafter until I made Stonewaller which only took about 5 years in total.
And Rockfords does have enough other stuff that is actually interesting to buy, drink, or cellar so it isn't all that bad or snobby. Give it a go- am sure you will find the staff there quite friendly and honest in their sales appraoch.

Appreciate the genuinely helpful info hwy and olympicwiz.

Just trying to contribute something useful:
Langtons has a few 2022 Standish Lamella left if anyone is interested (Yes I know, it's the Rockford thread, but the right demographic).
100 pt Robert Parker wine for $140.
Won't ever see it for that price again.

 

[Buzzard]

$85 at a restaurant for a 2020 Rod and Spur is very good IMHO

 

[samh004]

Did anyone else get along to the Grenache from the Ground Up event this year, held during the Barossa Vintage Festival?

Highlight was the 1998 Moppa Springs from a magnum!



And separately, any Stonewallers partake in the single allocation Black Shiraz Magnum on lees since 2001?

 

[Buzzard]

Did anyone else get along to the Grenache from the Ground Up event this year, held during the Barossa Vintage Festival?

Highlight was the 1998 Moppa Springs from a magnum!

View attachment 441449

And separately, any Stonewallers partake in the single allocation Black Shiraz Magnum on lees since 2001?

I wasn't even aware of the event.
That Moppa was probably outstanding.

 

[Daver6]

Did anyone else get along to the Grenache from the Ground Up event this year, held during the Barossa Vintage Festival?

Highlight was the 1998 Moppa Springs from a magnum!

View attachment 441449

And separately, any Stonewallers partake in the single allocation Black Shiraz Magnum on lees since 2001?

Where was this offered? Wasn't aware either.

 

[samh004]

I wasn't even aware of the event.

They are a key sponsor of the BVF held biennially, so tend to run an event during the period. They held the same event 2 years ago, but the DiPalma (I think I got that right) vineyard is actually cropping now. The link might not remain active for much longer, but the details are here: Barossa Vintage Festival | Grenache from the Ground Up

I can post a copy of the menu when I get home.

Where was this offered? Wasn't aware either.

They do list the event in the cellar door, for those that don't know about the broader festival.

As for the magnum, I didn't know about it until I turned up and saw it for sale at a tasting. They said they'd had a big response to it. It's similar to most things Rockford, if you call or visit you'll get offered whatever museum release they are doing, but they wont actively reach out to you. I just happened to be there to see it.

It's a $395 magnum of black shiraz that was on lees since 2001, disgorged in 2023 and comes with a letter from Robert O'Callaghan - or at least that was how it was described to me

That Moppa was probably outstanding.

I wont lie, was very nice.

They also had a muscat at the end that came from a barrel Robert liberated from another winery, they didn't know who, that supposedly had components up to 50 years old. That dram was nice.

 

[samh004]

I can post a copy of the menu when I get home.

 

[WrenchHammerMcTool]

Did anyone else get along to the Grenache from the Ground Up event this year, held during the Barossa Vintage Festival?

Highlight was the 1998 Moppa Springs from a magnum!

View attachment 441449

And separately, any Stonewallers partake in the single allocation Black Shiraz Magnum on lees since 2001?

No i didn't, I was at the Wines Behind the Vines at Adrian Hoffmann's (Izway, Eisenstone, Chris Ringland, Hoffmans, Glaezter to name a few). Rockford gig looked pretty good!

The Magnum is available to Stonewallers. They haven't nor are, advertising it. One of those "have you anything special not listed" wines. I umm'd and ahh'd for a long time whether to get. Bit the bullet...

Popped thru Rockford last week. As a Stonewaller, was able to get an extra 6 '21 BP, and wife got 3.