2017 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon

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The privilege of tasting pretty much the entire suite of Rockford wines in one sitting isn’t lost on me, nor is the kindness of my friend Merrick Watts making that happen for me, without him might I add. Meanwhile, I can’t recall a Rifle Range as good as this. Just nails it. And when you consider where cult and prestige cabernet prices are going in this country, well, here’s one not only for the ages, but to show ’em how it’s done. ‘Rare Chance Release’ is an occasional thing where a wine gets an extra year bottle age due to ‘abundance and quality’.

Heartland stuff, with freshness, a web of fine tannin, succulence, vitality and so very much charisma and interest. It’s blueberries and cassis, black olive, cedar, choc-mint, fennel, salted liquorice and undergrowth here. Big list, so much going on. Magnificent perfume, evocative, enticing, but that silky, satiny flow in the palate is the knockout blow. Length here too, all that fine detail and character, high drinkability. It’s such an inviting wine too – everyone is welcome here, you don’t need your elbow-patch-blazers and a degree in wine wankery to get in. An epic cabernet, a medium weight expression of Barossa Valley with so much character, beauty and bravado, wrapped in softness and sumptuous joy.
96 Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front (July 2021)