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! — 4 months ago

Carter White

9.3

Juicy dark fruit, complimented by black pepper, rich. — 6 months ago

Anjli Paul

10

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

Bob McDonald

9.5

A mid straw yellow in colour. Aromas are lemon and lime, lemongrass, mineral, wet hay with toastiness and lanolin starting to emerge at 13 years of age. Light bodied but great intensity - a richer texture for a Semillon, bearing in mind that this wine sees no oak at all - stainless steel all the way. Only 11% alcohol. Luckily I have 4 bottles left - a cellar life extending to 2030+. — 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

Scott Gould

9.1

Letty’s 50th Bday — 8 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

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

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

Maggie Harrison

8.9

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

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

Joe L.

9.3

Sexy beast - cab sauv bright red fruit sour cherry high acid, supple tannins, lingering finish — 6 months ago

K ITO

9.2

rich, bitter & sweet well balanced — 6 months ago

Ceradwen Tokheim

9.4

Solid and simple. Goes nicely with lots of things. — 8 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

Nedas Ka

10

Ritch oily smoothness😉 — 6 years ago

Michael Litchev

9.0

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

Dave Amos

9.7

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

Caleb Krell

9.2

Old, mishandled but a charcuterie plate of cherry and salami in a glass — 5 months ago

K Brooks

9.1

Delicious with Pat’s filet mignon — 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

Shay A

9.2

I don’t have much experience with the Bin 407 from Penfolds compared to others in the portfolio, but I was curious to see how this was drinking at 20yrs after recently getting locally for a steal.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Even knowing this is cab, I still expected a Penfolds Shiraz type aromatic, and while I didn’t exactly get that, the American Oak in the background alongside the ripe fruit do help bring Penfolds semi in to focus. This needed about 90mins in bottle to wake up…initially I was concerned I had missed a window as it was very stewed and fig dominant (not much fruit). The American Oak notes started appearing (faint coconut and dill) and then high toned red fruits. After 90mins, the palate bulked up and showed some black fruits, cassis, espresso, and even some Andes mint at the finish. Plenty of tannin too.

I’d open soon if you have any left, but give it some time to wake up. (Yes, the ‘94 Monte Bello was insanely good, as was the still young ‘06 Unico). — 8 months ago

Hessel Idema

9.6

Dark, full bodied, fruit and a dry finish. Highly recommended! — 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

Michael Murphy

9.8

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