James Halliday 95 Points | Seventeen Years of Age — Unused Power Under the Bonnet

The 2008 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 1.5 Litre is one of the most coveted bottles in Rockford's portfolio — a magnum of the Barossa's most iconic Shiraz, 17 years in bottle, with unused power still in reserve.

My Wine Man on Rockford

Rockford is one of the Barossa Valley's most revered and uncompromising estates. The Basket Press Shiraz is Rockford's flagship — one of Australia's most sought-after red wines, sourced from old dry-grown Barossa vineyards. In magnum, the wine evolves more slowly and more gracefully — and the 2008 still has serious power and structure underneath the maturity.

Tasting Notes

Deep crimson with developing complexity. Dark plum, blackberry, dried fig, dark chocolate, leather and cedar. The palate is full-bodied with ripe velvety tannins and a long, generous finish. In magnum, this 17-year-old still has unused power. 95 Points — James Halliday.

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied with velvety tannins and unused power. Drinking beautifully now and built for many more years in magnum format. Decant 2 hours.

Food Pairing

A 17-year-old 95-point Barossa magnum deserves the finest beef. We love it with Cape Grim Grass-Fed Tomahawk Steak from My Meat Man — reverse-seared low and slow before a hard finish on the grill, a magnificent match for the magnum-aged Rockford's dark plum, dried fig and velvety Barossa tannins. A pairing for the most special of occasions.