Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2018

Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet is a uniquely Australian red blend from an iconic Australian producer, and the 2018 vintage doesn’t disappoint. Heat in January and February gave way to a beautiful Indian summer perfect for these late ripening varieties. Right in the Rockford groove; deftly combining rich fruit with a sense of restraint and earthy complexity. Speaks to its region but also to over 50 years of honing the craft in the winery. This is just starting to hit its straps now and will soften and gain further secondary complexity over the decade to come. The name Rod & Spur acknowledges the contribution of the growers who spend the cold Barossa winters hand pruning their vines in the traditional rod and spur method. The wine that’s regularly my favourite value for money is the Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet. I get tired of hearing myself banging on about how good cabernet shiraz (or shiraz cabernet) blends are, but here I go again. This wine has irresistible drinkability. Again, elegant and savoury are two words that spring immediately to mind. In some vintages the shiraz leads this wine; this one, on the day, seemed to be showing its cabernet more. But the good thing is that warm-region blends of these two grapes splice together beautifully and don’t tend to allow one of the varieties to dominate. This is probably why cabernet shiraz blends are more successful in warm climates than cool: in cooler climates the varietal characters speak more loudly and tend to clash instead of fitting together like pieces of a puzzle – which is what happens with wines like Rod &Spur. – Huon Hooke, The Real Review The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Shiraz 67%, Cabernet Sauvignon 33% Country – Australia Region – Barossa Valley, South Australia Vintage – 2018 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 13.8%