96 Points James Halliday — A Barossa Legend at Its Magnificent Peak

My Wine Man on Rockford

Rockford is one of the Barossa Valley's most revered and uncompromising estates. Founded in 1984 by Robert O'Callaghan, the winery operates as a working museum of traditional Barossa winemaking — basket presses, open fermenters and old, dry-grown fruit. The Basket Press Shiraz is Rockford's flagship — and one of Australia's most sought-after red wines. The 2010, now 15 years in bottle, is at its magnificent peak.

Tasting Notes

Deep, dense crimson core. Dark plum, blackberry, dried fig, dark chocolate, clove, cedar and old leather. The palate is full-bodied and seamlessly assembled — rich and generous, never overblown. Ripe velvety tannins and a long, warm, deeply satisfying finish. 96 Points — James Halliday.

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied with plush ripe tannins and exceptional depth. Drinking magnificently now at peak maturity. Decant 1–2 hours. Drink through 2035.

Food Pairing

A 96-point aged Barossa icon at its peak deserves the finest beef. We love it with Australian Grass-Fed Cape Grim Rib-Eye Steak from My Meat Man — dry-aged and char-grilled medium-rare with bone-marrow butter, a magnificent match for Rockford's dark plum, dried fig and velvety mature Barossa tannins.