96 Points James Halliday — A Great Classic from a Great Vintage

The 2012 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz is a Barossa icon faithfully rendered from one of the great Barossa vintages of the modern era. Built to drink through 2047.

My Wine Man on Rockford

Rockford is one of the Barossa Valley's most revered and fiercely independent estates. Founded in 1984 by Robert O'Callaghan, Rockford has never chased trends or compromised on method. The Basket Press Shiraz is Rockford's flagship and one of Australia's most sought-after red wines, sourced from old, dry-grown Barossa vineyards and traditionally basket-pressed in the Rockford winery's working museum of pre-industrial winemaking.

Tasting Notes

Deep crimson with extraordinary density. 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, perfectly integrated oak, long warm finish. 96 Points — James Halliday. Drink by 2047.

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied with plush ripe tannins and exceptional depth. Drinking magnificently now and built for the long haul. Decant 1 hour. Cellar through 2047.

Food Pairing

A 96-point Rockford Basket Press demands a serious cut. We love it with Australian Grass-Fed Cape Grim Rib-Eye Steak from My Meat Man — char-grilled rare with bone-marrow butter, a magnificent match for Rockford's dark plum, integrated oak and velvety Barossa tannins.