James Halliday - Wine Companion 2012
2008 Rochford Macedon Ranges Chardonnay.
Pale green-gold; a finely balanced and focused wine reflecting perfectly ripened fruit cradled in French oak and supported by brisk activity, the flavours of grapefruit and tangerine. Rating 95.
2008 Sebastian's Paddock Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir.
A somehwat deeper colour than its sibling; has a substantially greater volume of dark berry fruits on bouquet and palate; good structure and length, and a long life ahead. Rating 94.
2008 Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Chardonnay. Rating 92
winefront.com.au
Sparkling Wine Tasting
Friday 17 December 2010 By Gary Walsh
“Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Chardonnay 2008 $35 12.5% Crownseal *****
Biscuity, cream wafers, clean, attractive salty flavours with a floral/lavender edge. Citrus and Granny Smith apple, creamy red fruits. Layers. Good finish. Stylish. Complex. Nice line. Modern Australian Classic 93 points
Friday 17 December 2010 By Gary Walsh“Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Chardonnay 2008 $35 12.5% Crownseal *****Biscuity, cream wafers, clean, attractive salty flavours with a floral/lavender edge. Citrus and Granny Smith apple, creamy red fruits. Layers. Good finish. Stylish. Complex. Nice line. Modern Australian Classic 93 points
Chrisshanahan.com
24 November 2010
“Rochford Pinot Gris 2009 $28–$33 Macedon, Victoria The hot, dry 2009 vintage kept pinot gris yields in Rochford’s Macedon vineyard to less than 2.5 tonnes per hectare. This partly explains the richness of fruit flavour that, in combination with great textural richness, gives an impression of sweetness. Yet the wine carries a barely-detectable five grams a litre of residual sugar. This is true, cool-grown pinot gris – with a light rinse of bronze-pink colour, clear varietal flavour, silky, slightly oily texture and very fresh, lively acidity.”
17 November 2010
“Rochford Sebastian’s Paddock Pinot Noir 2008 $54–$60 Macedon Ranges, Victoria Rochford is a Yarra based maker with 24 hectares of vines near Lansfield, in the Macedon Ranges, and 14 hectares in the Yarra (before its recent purchase of the Briarty Hill vineyard). The wine reveals a wide spectrum of pinot aromas and flavours, from ripe, red berries to a slight stalkiness to earthy and savoury notes. The palate’s generous and complex and showing the assertive, firm tannins of the hot 2008 vintage.”
Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine - Oct/Nov 2008
Five Stars *****
2006 Rochford Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 94
Four Stars****
2006 Rochford Macedon Ranges Chardonnay
Rating: 93
James Halliday - Wine Companion 2008
2006 Rochford Macedon Ranges Chardonnay. Rating 93
2006 Rochford Yarra Valley Chardonnay. Rating 93
2007 Rochford Yarra Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Rating 90
2007 Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Gris. Rating 90
2006 Rochford Yarra Valley Pinot Noir. Rating 89
2005 Rochford Yarra Valley Shiraz. Rating 89
2006 Rochford Macedon Ranges Reserve Pinot Noir. Rating 88
Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine - Dec/Jan 2008
Five Stars *****
Rochford Yarra Valley Reserve Shiraz 2005.
Rating: 94
Peppery aromas with a raspberry, earthy edge, good balance of ripeness and restraint, texture and style. Elegant with almost renaissance overtones.
James Halliday - Wine Companion 2007
Five Stars *****
Rochford Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2004
Rating: 94
Good purple-red hue; attractive silky red and black cherry fruit: good length bolstered by fine tannins and quality French oak. Screwcap.
Drink: 2013
Rochford Macedon Ranges Reserve Pinot Noir 2004
Rating: 94
Excellent colour; very elegant, fine and focused; seamless French oak, savoury tannins and spiced plum fruit. A decidedly curious choice of cork when the varietal gets Diam. Cork.
Drink: 2010
Rochford Yarra Valley Reserve Shiraz 2003
Rating: 94
Fragrant black fruit, spice and herb aromas; a medium-bodied, supple and smooth palate with mocha and spice; 18months new French oak.
Drink: 2013
James Halliday - Wine Companion 2006
Rochford Macedon Ranges Reserve Pinot Noir 2003
Rating: 94
Very complex sous bois aromas: intense but relatively fine spice and forest flavours: excellent length. Good cork.
Drink: 2010
Rochford Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2003
Rating: 92
Tight, fragrant grapefruit, citrus and melon; nice touches of barrel ferment and malolactic; good length. Cork.
Drink: 2010
Rochford Yarra Valley Reserve Pinot Noir 2003
Rating: 91
Radically different from the varietal; deeper colour; medium to full-bodied; ripe plum, spice and brable; oak push. High quality cork.
Drink: 2008
Rochford Yarra Valley Shiraz 2002
Rating: 91
Neatly balanced redcurrant, raspberry and blackcurrant, with notes of spice; medium-bodied; fine tannins and length.
Drink: 2010
Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir 2003
Rating: 90
Fresh bright cherry fruit then spicy, savoury, fine grained tannins; good length. Cork.
Drink: 2008
Rochford Yarra Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2004
Rating: 89
Nicely balanced and weighted wine; ripe gooseberry fruit; crisp finish. Screwcap.
Drink: Now
Rochford Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2003
Rating: 89
Spicy, foresty aromas; light-bodied, elegant palate, again spice dominant; doesn't show its alcohol of 14.5. Screwcap.
Drink: 2007
Rochford Yarra Valley Cabernet Merlot 2001
Rating: 89
Firm, earth savoury edges built around blackcurrant, olive and cedar fruit; distinctly regional.Good cork.
Drink: 2011
Rochford Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2003
Rating: 88
Ripe yellow peach and tropical fruit; unusual for the region; barrel ferment oak and malolactic inputs. Cork.
Drink: 2008
Rochford Yarra Valley Arneis 2004
Rating: 88
Faint lemon blossom and slate; mineral, lemon zest and spice, bright finish. Screwcap.
Drink: 2007
Rochford Victoria Chardonnay 2003
Rating: 87
Melon and citrus; light-bodied but balanced; hints of oak. Screwcap.
Drink: 2009
Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Gris 2004
Rating: 86
Drink: 2007
James Halliday - Wine Companion 2004
Rochford Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2002
Rating: 94
Complex and intense; savoury, forest floor edges to spice and dark plum fruit; long finish.
Drink: 2010
Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir 2001
Rating: 90
Fragrant, spicy, savoury bouquet; elegant but intense, with length and persistent aftertaste.
Drink: Now
Rochford Victoria Shiraz 2003
Rating: 93
Good colour; powerful licorice, spice, blackberry and plum; plenty of depth and development potential.
Drink: 2005-2010
Rochford Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2002
Rating: 90
Subtle nectarine/stone fruit aromas are complexed by oak and malolactic influences; delicate and graceful in the mouth.
Drink: 2008
Rochford Yarra Valley Arneis 2003
Rating: 90
Aromatic lemony/floral blossom aromas; considerable texture and structure; most distinctive examples so far from Australia.
Drink 2007
Rochford Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Rating: 90
Abundant, strongly varietal, ripe blackcurrent fruit; the luscious palate is likewise fruit-driven.
Drink: 2011
Rochford Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2002
Rating: 89
Complex barrel ferment/malolactic ferment and lees inputs make the winemaker's finger prints a little too obvious, but certainly has character.
Drink: 2007
Rochford Yarra Valley / Macedon Ranges Riesling 2003
Rating: 88
Aromatic bouquet, some spicy elements; good depth; pineapple and lime plus mineral; abundant character.
Drink: 2013
Rochford Yarra Valley Sauvigon Blanc 2002
Rating: 88
Drink: Now
Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Gris 2003
Rating: 87
James Halliday - Wine Companion 2003
Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir 2000
Rating: 94
Medium Red-Purple; a clean bouquet with most attractive plummy/cherry fruit is completed by a neat touch of toasty oak. The palate is smooth, with perfectly ripened fruit, and the silky texture and length of top-class Pinot Noir. A multiple trophy winner, first at the 2001 Royal Melbourne Wine Show (Best Pinot Noir of Show) and then at the 2001 Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition for Best Wine of Show.
best drinking 2002-2007
drink with jugged hare
Rochford Macedon Ranges Cabernet Merlot 1998
Rating: 90
Medium red-purple; quite complex black and red fruit aromas foretell a palate with good richness and weight centred on ripe red berry fruit, finishing with subtle oak.
best drinking 2003-2008
drink with Yearling beef
Rochford Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2000
Rating: 88
Light to medium yellow-green; mineral, cashew and melon aromas are followed by a typically delicate but well-balanced palate with a nice mix of fruit and mlf-induced cashew.
best drinking 2003-2008
drink with Fresh abalone
Mike Frost, Courier Mail, 1st July 2003
Rochford E Yarra Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2002
"Local hero" Rating: 89
There's tropical fruit with a grassy edge in this tasty in this tasty Yarra youngster. Another to enjoy young and fresh with seafood.
Paddy Kendler, Herald Sun, 3rd June 2003
Rochford Victoria Merlot 2002
"4/5 Fine Drop" Less than $20
This attractive merlot includes fruit from various Victorian regions. It has and instantly appealing sweet fruit bouquet, plenty of grape flavour, soft, smooth texture and satisfying effect. Definitely made to enjoy now to soon, not for cellaring.
Huon Hooke, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2nd May 2003
Rochford Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir 2001
"Top Aussie red"
This superb Macedon Ranges pinot has classic black and red cherry flavours coupled with subtle nutty and vanilla notes from wood and spot-on-ripeness. The taste is very intense, succulent, fruit-sweet and fleshy, medium bodied with lovely balance. Best now to 2007.
Drink with barbequed quail.
Winestate Magazine Reviews
Rochford Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2001
FOUR STARS
Rochford's Eyton Yarra Valley Pinot Noir Chardonnay 1999
THREE STARS
Rochford's Eyton Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
THREE STARS
Rochford's Eyton Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2000
FOUR STARS