Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Eye-catching label with a key holding lion front and center. This is a dark and viscous red. Smells a bit like an onion roll and well treated deck-wood in the sun. And wineries. Hint of earthiness with the grape must. Flavors are minty and fresh. Berry in there for sure. Like a raspberry Italian soda maybe. Plenty of bite too. Has more licorice and earthy bottom than many Aussie Shiraz at this price. This isn’t strange and complex French (or any cool climes) style Syrah, but it’s a well done, complex and lush example of nice Shiraz. — 2 years ago

Daniele Veronelli

9.2

Creamy and complex. Bit of malo, batonnage and fermentation in small and large French oak — 4 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.4

2003 Vintage. Last bottle. Delightful, still velvety fruit but aged earthy characters driving through. Lovely! — 6 years ago

Katherine Potter

10

No Sulphur reaction — 2 years ago

Tom Walsh

9.0

Wonderful dry blend — 3 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.2

Day after day, time after time, taste after taste.
I’m blown away by how much Shiraz can shine in different parts of Australia.
With Seppelt’s rich history and knowledge mixed with TWE pockets and vineyards it makes for great wine 👍🏼 — 6 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.4

Great balance
Long life
Never super, but fantastic sip — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

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. — 3 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.6

Absolutely amazing. So fresh at 14 years of age. Amazing vibrant steely acidity with crunchy mineral notes. The palate lasts forever! Wow! — 6 years ago

David Barker

9.8

Magnificent, full bodied, plush, decadent Aussie personalisation of a 'Super Tuscan' Cab Shiraz blend. Crafted by master winemaker Andrew Seppelt through Brett Hayes' pioneering newish kid off the block 'Hayes Family Wines'. Don't be fooled by the youth of Brett's venture, these wines display a history and heritage steeped in barossas's finest terroir, knowledge and nous. These are grapes from Barossa's hallowed Ebeneezer dirt, and Shultz vineyard dirt at that. But it's Andrew's knack for oeniological alchemy that extracts the finest from the blend, making a wine that is so plush, rounded and powerful it feels like donning your red velvet smoking jacket and sinking into a soft armchair in your best old slippers.
The only disappointing thing about this wine is that, in my humble opinion, it really needs a good 8-10 years of cellaring to reach its full potential. Have one now to enjoy it's youthful vibrancy and stash the rest of you can leave it alone!
I hear that this will be the only vintage blending both grapes from Barossa soil, so grab this unique vintage while you can. I believe future vintages with be Barossa Shiraz and Coonawarra Cab Sauv. The Aussie finest bride and groom upbringing of this pair. I can't wait to see what the future holds.
NB: the author is neither commercially connected to Hayes Family Wines' or receives free bottles to sample. All wine was purchased by the author. — 6 years ago