2002 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml

Description

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All our fine wines and rare spirits are professionally stored in our temperature-controlled underground cellar to maintain their quality and integrity.

Store Pickup Available

Pickup is available from Sip & Cellars, 1123 Burke Road, Kew VIC 3101.

The 2002 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon is a rare, mature release from the iconic Barossa Valley producer Rockford Wines, known for its traditional winemaking philosophy and commitment to old-vine, regional Australian wine styles. The Rifle Range Cabernet is one of Rockford’s most distinctive single-varietal wines, celebrated for its structure, longevity, and classic Cabernet expression.

The 2002 vintage in South Australia produced balanced, structured wines with excellent ageing potential. Now with more than two decades of bottle maturity, this wine shows the full evolution of premium Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon, where fruit has integrated seamlessly with secondary and tertiary development.

Fruit is sourced from select mature Barossa vineyards, with a focus on traditional dry-grown plantings. The wine is crafted using classic Rockford techniques, including small-batch fermentation and maturation in seasoned French and American oak, allowing long-term development while preserving varietal identity.

The bouquet is fully evolved and deeply complex, showing dried blackcurrant, blackberry, and stewed plum, layered with tertiary aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, leather, earth, dried herbs, and spice box. Subtle notes of graphite, olive tapenade, and forest floor add further depth and savoury complexity.

On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, smooth, and fully mature, with softened tannins and a seamless, integrated texture. Flavours of dried dark fruit, cassis, and plum compote are now joined by savoury elements such as tobacco, cedar, and earthy complexity, with remaining acidity providing balance and lift.

The finish is long, savoury, and gently fading, with lingering notes of dried berries, leather, spice, and earthy nuance. At this stage, the wine is in its mature drinking window, offering elegance, complexity, and tertiary character rather than primary fruit intensity.

A classic example of aged Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2002 Rifle Range highlights the cellaring potential and traditional craftsmanship of Rockford Wines.