Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Cellar for up to 15 years. Decant for half an hour before serving. Rockford winery was founded in the early 1980s by Robert O’Callaghan, just outside of Krondorf village in the Barossa Range. The winery itself is a quaint collection of stone buildings, which date back to the early days of settlement in Krondorf. In the spirit of its old-fashioned headquarters, Rockford has never truly modernised. Those at the winery prefer to use traditional wine-making methods to create their high-quality range of delicious red wines. Shiraz/Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are the lead actors at Rockford. The winery works with small, independent growers in the Barossa region, giving them access to a wide variety of micro-climates, and in due course, some unique expressions of Southern Australia’s favourite grapes. Rockford’s Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon bursts with red berry aromas, liquorice, bitter chocolate and hints of smoke. Its fruits were sourced from vineyards along Rifle Range Road, directly behind Rockford’s winery. The soil here is composed of heavy, dark clay, giving the Cabernet Sauvignon a bold and earthy profile. The palate exhibits a strong, tense acidity, with flavours of blackcurrant, dark plum, herbs and a solid portion of oak. It is highly enjoyable now but also has some more cellaring potential. Pair it with simple gamey meat dishes, or cheeses such as gorgonzola and parmesan.

Price: £59.51 from 8wines UK