97 Points – James Halliday | The Barossa's Most Iconic Shiraz, Faithfully Rendered

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 — known simply as Rocky — Rockford has never chased trends, never compromised on method, and never stopped doing things the hard way. The winery operates with basket presses, open fermenters, and old-vine fruit sourced from some of the Barossa's most storied dry-grown vineyards. It is, in every sense, a living museum of traditional Barossa winemaking.

The Basket Press Shiraz is Rockford's flagship — and one of Australia's most sought-after red wines. Nearly 30 parcels of old, dry-grown fruit are sourced from some of the finest grape-growing families in the Barossa, open-fermented, and matured in American and French oak for nearly two years. The result is a wine that is unmistakably Barossa, yet never heavy-handed: all fruit, all texture, all soul.

Tasting Notes

Deep, dense colour with a crimson core. The nose opens with dark plum, blackberry, and dried fig, layered with dark chocolate, clove, and a whisper of cedar and old leather. The palate is full-bodied and seamlessly assembled — rich and generous, yet never overblown. Tannins are ripe and velvety, the oak perfectly integrated, and the finish is long, warm, and deeply satisfying. This is fruit talking, not alcohol, not oak, not rough tannins. 97 Points – James Halliday.

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied with plush, ripe tannins and exceptional depth. The 2015 vintage is drinking magnificently now, with the structure and concentration to continue evolving through 2035 and beyond. Decant for at least one hour before serving to allow the wine to fully open. Serve at 17–18°C.

Food Pairing

The rich, dark-fruited depth and velvety tannin structure of the 2015 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz make it a perfect match for Australian Grass-Fed Cape Grim Rib-Eye Steak from My Meat Man. The wine's dark plum intensity, integrated oak, and velvety tannins complement the bold, mineral-rich character of Cape Grim grass-fed beef beautifully — whether seared hard on a cast iron pan, cooked over charcoal, or finished with a red wine jus.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$1,088, the 2015 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz is a 97-point Barossa icon from one of Australia's most respected and uncompromising estates — a wine that commands far higher prices on the secondary market and is increasingly difficult to source. Rockford produces in tiny quantities, sells primarily through a mailing list, and rarely discounts. For collectors and serious wine lovers, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a benchmark Australian red at a fair price, with a decade or more of cellaring potential still ahead of it.

Looking for a Different Style?

2012 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz — peer 96pt vintage / older sibling / drinking superbly
2010 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz — peer 96pt Halliday / 15 years bottle age
2018 Penfolds Grange Bin 95 — 100pt Wine Advocate / Australia's most iconic Shiraz