96–97pts | "Rockford Can Only Be Described as an Icon" — James Halliday

The 2018 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz is now 7 years old and entering a beautiful drinking window — seamless in texture, long in flavour, and possessed of the kind of integrated depth that only comes with time. This is one of Australia's most iconic wines at a stage where patience has already been rewarded.

My Wine Man on Rockford

Robert O'Callaghan — "Rocky" — has been making Basket Press from century-old Barossa vines since 1984, using a traditional basket press that most wineries retired generations ago. As James Halliday put it: "Rockford can only be described as an icon, no matter how overused that word may be." The 2018 is a beautiful vintage for the Barossa — generous, structured, and built for the long haul.

Tasting Notes

Deep red/purple in colour with a bouquet that is shy and reserved but clean and correct, revealing coconut after time in the glass. Very good depth of fruit with abundant soft, fine tannins that run the length of the palate. Full-bodied and gently chocolaty, with lovely soft texture and a savoury richness — the finish is long with an appropriate touch of firmness at the end. The tannins are full but so well integrated they are barely noteworthy. Seamless texture and flavour. A very fine and stylish Barossa Shiraz.

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied with seamlessly integrated tannins and exceptional length. Drinking beautifully now through 2033. Decant for 1 hour to allow the wine to fully open up.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$1,299, the 2018 Rockford Basket Press is one of the most significant aged Australian wines available in Hong Kong. With 96–97pt scores, 7 years of bottle age, and Rocky's unmatched track record, this is a wine that is ready to drink now but will continue to reward patience. Rockford Basket Press is one of the most allocated wines in Australia — bottles at this age rarely come to market.

Looking for a Different Style?

Explore more from the Rockford range:

• 2020 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz — younger vintage, cooler and more elegant in character
• 2019 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz — previous vintage, bigger and more brooding in style
• 2005 Rockford SVS Hoffman Shiraz — the rare single-vineyard step-up, now 20 years old

Life's too short for bad wine.