Region: Barossa Valley
Sub Region: Barossa – Multi-site
Variety: Shiraz
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2021
The Wine
The 2021 Basket Press comes from one of the strongest recent Barossa growing seasons. After several warmer, lower-yielding years, 2021 delivered a more moderate season with good water availability and a longer ripening period, resulting in Shiraz with strong flavour development, freshness and naturally balanced structure.
As always, Basket Press is assembled from parcels sourced across the Barossa rather than one vineyard. Rockford’s traditional process—open fermentation, gentle basket pressing and prolonged maturation in seasoned American and French oak—allows those different vineyard components to come together without the gloss of overt new wood.
The 2021 is notably savoury despite the quality of its fruit. Raspberry, red cherry and cranberry sit alongside dried herbs, terracotta, cedar, meat, forest floor and subtle mint. It has excellent concentration but a firmer, straighter profile than some of the softer Basket Press years, supported by fine but persistent tannin.
At just under 14% alcohol, it is also a useful reminder that serious Barossa Shiraz does not require excessive ripeness to deliver depth.
Cellared Says
2021 was such a good Barossa season, and this is a more controlled Basket Press than some of the warmer vintages around it. There’s plenty of fruit, but I really like the herbal, earthy side of the wine and the slightly firmer tannin. Young by Basket Press standards; one to put away rather than rush.
Reviews
“Concentrated red fruits including raspberry and red cherry, dried herbs, cedar and the faintest trace of mint.”
96 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review
“There’s a sinewy element… aided and abetted by herb, twig and earth characters.”
94 Points – Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion
Region: Barossa Valley
Sub Region: Barossa – Multi-site
Variety: Shiraz
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2021
The Wine
The 2021 Basket Press comes from one of the strongest recent Barossa growing seasons. After several warmer, lower-yielding years, 2021 delivered a more moderate season with good water availability and a longer ripening period, resulting in Shiraz with strong flavour development, freshness and naturally balanced structure.
As always, Basket Press is assembled from parcels sourced across the Barossa rather than one vineyard. Rockford’s traditional process—open fermentation, gentle basket pressing and prolonged maturation in seasoned American and French oak—allows those different vineyard components to come together without the gloss of overt new wood.
The 2021 is notably savoury despite the quality of its fruit. Raspberry, red cherry and cranberry sit alongside dried herbs, terracotta, cedar, meat, forest floor and subtle mint. It has excellent concentration but a firmer, straighter profile than some of the softer Basket Press years, supported by fine but persistent tannin.
At just under 14% alcohol, it is also a useful reminder that serious Barossa Shiraz does not require excessive ripeness to deliver depth.
Cellared Says
2021 was such a good Barossa season, and this is a more controlled Basket Press than some of the warmer vintages around it. There’s plenty of fruit, but I really like the herbal, earthy side of the wine and the slightly firmer tannin. Young by Basket Press standards; one to put away rather than rush.
Reviews
“Concentrated red fruits including raspberry and red cherry, dried herbs, cedar and the faintest trace of mint.”
96 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review
“There’s a sinewy element… aided and abetted by herb, twig and earth characters.”
94 Points – Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion
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