Rockford
Black Barossa Valley Shiraz
Barossa Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
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.
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, 2018First, 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, 2017
Disgorged 2000
What an absolute trooper, this thing is creamy, thick, port like sparkling.
Super low shoulder and drenched cork had us worried. No need to fret, this thing was singing!!!!!
Disgorged 2000
What an absolute trooper, this thing is creamy, thick, port like sparkling.
Super low shoulder and drenched cork had us worried. No need to fret, this thing was singing!!!!!
How do they do it, one of my top ten wines. Was never a fan of Sparkling Shiraz but this bottle turned me.
How do they do it, one of my top ten wines. Was never a fan of Sparkling Shiraz but this bottle turned me.
Apr 7th, 2018
NV Sparkling Shiraz. Basket press. Dark purple hue. Wow - amazing nose. Black plums, sweet spice, mulberries, leather, and hints of earthy manure. Fabulous. On the palate, off dry, high acidity, deep concentration of flavours, medium plus body and medium alcohol. Great depth on the long lingering finish. A revelation. Clearly the best sparkling Aussie wine I have tried, never mind sparkling red wine. Awesome. 94 points.
NV Sparkling Shiraz. Basket press. Dark purple hue. Wow - amazing nose. Black plums, sweet spice, mulberries, leather, and hints of earthy manure. Fabulous. On the palate, off dry, high acidity, deep concentration of flavours, medium plus body and medium alcohol. Great depth on the long lingering finish. A revelation. Clearly the best sparkling Aussie wine I have tried, never mind sparkling red wine. Awesome. 94 points.
Mar 13th, 2017// The sparkling comes in wonderful! Good!
// The sparkling comes in wonderful! Good!
Feb 5th, 2017