Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2018

Cellar for up to 15 years. Decant for half an hour before serving.

Rockford winery is based in a picturesque collection of stone buildings, just outside the village of Krondorf in the Barossa Range. It was founded in the 1980s by Robert O’Callaghan and has grown into a top-tier producer of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz/Syrah wines, and one of Australia’s best-known traditional wineries.

Those at Rockford take a hands-on, old-school approach to wine-making. They employ basket presses, open concrete fermenting vats, and a Bagshaw grape crusher from the 1880s, to create a beautiful range of critically acclaimed Australian red wines.

The Rod & Spur Cabernet-Shiraz blend is a nod to classic Australian reds from the 1950s and 60s. A bouquet of black and red fruit, cedar and honey rises from the bottle. Its grapes originated from Eden Valley. They are aged separately in barrels of French and American oak, for two years. Rod & Spur is a striking dark ruby in the glass, with dominant flavours of dark cherry and raspberry, accompanied by subtle oakiness and cassis elements. This is a chance to taste a distinctly Australian blend, born when viticulture was still emerging in the country. Pair it with a herby lamb rack, or a cheesy mushroom dish.