Rochford Latitude Yarra Valley Shiraz 2022 - 12 Bottles

Product Description

Winery Background

Rochford Wines is a winery in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, known for its accessible yet high-quality wines and a strong commitment to expressing cool-climate character. Their Latitude series aims to showcase regional varietals with clarity, drinkability, and a sense of place. The vineyard and winery together emphasise sustainable viticultural practices and careful sourcing from the Yarra Valley’s cooler sites.

Vineyards and Vintage Conditions
The 2022 vintage in the Yarra Valley was marked by a relatively mild growing season, with moderate daytime temperatures and cooler nights. These conditions allowed slow, even ripening of Shiraz grapes, which helps preserve acidity and build depth of flavour. Soils in the region are generally well-draining loams on granite or clay over limestone, giving good minerality and structure.

Winemaking
Grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness, destemmed and fermented in small batches. Fermentation protocols included gentle extraction to avoid harsh tannins, with periodic pump-overs or punch-downs to balance fruit extraction and structure. After fermentation, the wine was matured in oak—likely seasoned barrels, possibly a mix of French and American oak—for a period to add spice, secondary complexity and soften the tannins, without overwhelming the fruit. The wine is bottled after sufficient maturation to ensure integration of oak and fruit.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep ruby red with purple edges.
  

• Aroma: Rich aromas of black cherry, plum and subtle pepper spice, with floral hints such as violet.
  

• Palate: Medium to full-bodied, offering juicy dark fruit flavours—blackberry, dark plum—balanced by savoury spice and gentle oak. Silky tannins give good texture.
  

• Finish: Long, with lingering spice, dark fruit and smooth structure.
  

Food Pairing
 Pairs well with grilled meats such as lamb chops or beef steaks, slow-cooked dishes like ragu or roast duck, and richly flavoured vegetarian fare such as roasted mushrooms or lentil stews. Also works beautifully with aged or hard cheeses.

Vintage Note