Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Everything about this wine is DARK. Deep ruby/purple color bordering on black. Aromas of black and blue fruit, Asian spices and coffee. Flavors of cooked black berry/plum/currant fruit, bakers chocolate, tar and espresso. Hint of black pepper on the long, lingering and silky finish. Extremely concentrated with lively acidity. Tannins are firm but in harmony. This is a wine you quickly take notice of. Probably at (or just past) its peak. Thanks for the wonderful gift, Petey P! — 3 months ago

Jeffrey Trezek

9.5

One of the faves for Shiraz. Big, bold, yet easy to drink. Punchy with black and red fruits, not to tannic. — 6 months ago

Anjli Paul

10

Given by Akash, smoothest Shiraz we’ve ever had — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

An absolutely alluring nose with cloves, spice, dried meat and a trace of pepper. Barely medium weight on the palate. Barb loved it for that. Very different to Barossa or McLaren Vale Shiraz. Without a doubt the best Shiraz Viognier blend in Australia although Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 2 (with a few other Rhone varieties in the blend) would give it a run for its money. Really very good with a few years to go but pretty much at its peak. — 8 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.2

8/2024. Big and bold. Sits well on the palate. Nice finish.

Hall’s Chophouse — 10 months ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.8

The 2018 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz is a utterly sensational bottling that rivals any wine of its kind. Aged in all new American oak, this shows a gorgeous bouquet from blueberry pie to espresso grounds, graphite and toasty oak tones that all impress. The palate is deep and utterly seamless. A massive core of blue and dark fruits collide with white pepper, minerals, firm tannins and a light dusting of salinity. While obviously big, this has a weightless quality and wonderful verve. Wonderful to enjoy now, this outstanding Shiraz will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. But why wait? Drink 2021-2038- 98 — 4 years ago

Michael Roberts

9.1

Delicious this is one of my go to wines. Low tanning taste, with the perfect amount of sweetness for me — 6 years ago

Rick Legare

9.1

Delicious — 7 years ago

Risika Nyx

8.9

Smells kind of like... Wax, I suppose and mild oak.

Tastes big. Dark berries, nice round tanins with a mild finish. — 8 years ago

Peter Plaehn

8.9

Hot, hot, hot. Lots of candied fruit and jam. — 11 years ago

Maggie Harrison

8.9

black fruit, meat, graphite, firm tannins, moderate acid. — 3 months ago

Marc Melser

9.3

We had the 2012 Vintage on 2/14-15/25. An excellent Syray with tastes of blackberry, plum, mocha, leather and spice. As time went on the bouquet developed eucalyptus. Full bodied, New World. Fruit forward. I’m glad I gave it 13 years in the bottle. — 4 months ago

P S

8.9

Big nose but not big body. Very tasty but not worth the 100+ price. Really nice but not good value. 80/20 Syrah/ mouvedre. — 6 months ago

with Larry

Jay Kline

9.1

Poured into a decanted about an hour prior to service and presented double-blind. The 2019 “Lily’s Garden” pours a deep garnet with a bit of purple and a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is developing with black bramble fruit, purple flowers, a touch of the animal and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The alcohol is elevated; calling it high. The finish is medium+. I called Syrah from France, from the Northern Rhône, Croze-Hermitage from a recent warmer vintage like 2019. Dangit…I got the variety right but I should have considered Australia with the elevated alcohol. This is a fairly classic Aussie Shiraz that certainly gives off a French vibe but the fruit and alcohol give it away. Drink now through 2034. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured, enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1998 “Command” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. Definitely some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and mostly dried black and red fruits: brambles, blueberries, blackberries, dates, grilled meat, leather, purple flowers, marjoram, earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (mostly integrated) and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with the addition of an umami/Maillard reaction sort of thing giving a rich, savory finish. Drink now as it’s in slow decline. — 10 months ago

Paul J

9.1

1hr+ decant and could have used more. Dark red color. Interesting nose with metallic, medicinal tones that tingled my nose. Wine has massive strawberry and cassis; and is sweeter than I was expecting. Very concentrated. The tannins reduce with ample air and the spicy aspects dissipate with time as well making it more approachable. Medium finish. — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Clive McNish

9.3

Really good Shiraz that is starting to age well. Plenty of heavy blackcurrant, diesel and menthol with a finish that is long and complex. This will get smoother over time but it drinks well now. Only complaint is that there was a lot of sediment, meaning the last eighth of the bottle was lost (unfortunately no decanter available). Great Penfolds example without the huge Grange pricing. — 6 years ago

Michael Murphy

9.8

A fantastic fruity, tannic red wine. Yum!! — 8 years ago

Dave Amos

9.7

Perfect. It's f-ing perfect. — 10 years ago

AEL

8.9

Granular, ripe and heavy. Syrupy berry and smokey notes. Quite smooth. Enjoyable? Yes. Whopping alcohol level? Yes. Worth fifty bucks? No. At mom's. — 4 months ago

Carter White

9.3

Juicy dark fruit, complimented by black pepper, rich. — 5 months ago

Christine Peterman

9.3

Like the BBQ chilled red in the Hamptons — 6 months ago

Brian Hearty

9.1

2013. Eleven years under a screw cap and it tastes very fresh with dark berry fruit and no visible signs of age. From the other reviews, I think the oak has probably mellowed a bit and I really enjoyed it with a meaty patty melt. — 6 months ago

Selfvingster

9.4

I received a bottle of Rockford as a 40th birthday gift, a wine I wasn’t familiar with at the time. After five years of aging, I opened it in the company of good friends – and what an experience! A rich and well-balanced wine, with intense flavors of berries and plums that really impressed. Wow, a wine that captivates with its harmony and depth. — 8 months ago

with Henrik, Gus and 1 other

Jan de Weerd

9.8

Concentrated extract. Nearly pitch black in the glass. Takes an hour to come to complete expression with layers of dark red fruit of cherry and plum soaked in spice. Remained very centered on the palette and settled in a complex, layered finish. Since we have been in Australia for more than six weeks I have to use the cricket lingo: this wine was all about ‘Lane and Length’. Much, much enjoyed it. Blew my head off. — 2 years ago

with Tammy

Przemek Gonet

9.0

Nice dark red colour. Blackcurrant on nose.
Ripe berries little bit too much acidity then pepper taste in the middle and silky creamy finish — 5 years ago

Michael Litchev

9.0

Pretty good taste, not too strong - great for my first scan! — 6 years ago

Sandra Stevens

9.5

Loved this at the wine crush on have on 16 Sept 2017 — 8 years ago

Paul Taylor

9.1

Thick. Luscious and got plenty of legs. Love this blend — 10 years ago