Arguably Australia's leading cult Shiraz. Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2016 is a classic worth seeking out and cellaring.

Wine varietal and region: 100% Shiraz. Made from specially selected small parcels of old, dry-grown  Barossa Shiraz from nearly 30 of the Barossa’s finest grape growing families. The vineyards are in different sub-regions throughout the Barossa, which adds to the complexity and depth of the final blend.

The wine is handmade using equipment from the turn of the last century. It then ages in seasoned American and French oak casks for 2 years.

Taste profile: Deep garnet colour. Opens with an earthy nose that broadens to include underlying notes of espresso, dark chocolate, nuts and a hint of blackberry preserve. The medium-bodied palate has a firm structure, chewy tannins and a crisp acidity. Impressive length too. All of this supports a ripe concentration of red berry fruit, earthy and mocha flavours that close with a pleasant muscular fruit and dried herb finish.

Fun fact: The 2015 Rockford Basket Press follows on from the heavily lauded 2014 vintage, which won James Halliday's Best Shiraz of The Year award with 99 points. Those in the know understand that the 2015 vintage in the Barossa was a stunner. It's likely that the 2015 Rockford Basket Press is even better than the 2014, if such a thing is possible!