Wine & Partners - Can cutsy-named wines be serious?
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Bronze 2009 Royal Melbourne Wine Show
2008 Rocland Estate Shiraz

2010 James Halliday Wine Companion - 93 points
2007 Rocland Estate Lot 147

2010 James Halliday Wine Companion - 91 points
2006 Kilroy was Here! Shiraz

2010 James Halliday Wine Companion - 90 points
2007 Rocland Estate Shiraz

2010 James Halliday Wine Companion - 90 points
2008 MVR

2007 Lot 147 Shiraz
Silver, 2009 International Wine and Spirit Competition, London

2005 Ducks & Goose Shiraz
Bronze Medal, 2009 Royal Queensland Wine Show

Wine Enthusiast Magazine 90 points and Editors Choice
Chocolate Box 2007 "Dark Chocolate" Shiraz from Barossa Valley

Source: July Issue 2009 Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine 89 points
Kilroy Was Here! 2006 Barossa Valley Shiraz

Source: July Issue 2009 Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine 85 points
Chocolate Box 2008 "White Chocolate" Sav Blanc from Eden Valley

Source: July Issue 2009 Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine 91 Points - Cellar Selection and Editors Choice
Rocland Estate Lot 147 2006 Barossa Valley Shiraz

Rocland puts out a number of inexpensive wines, but this is evidence that the company has quality aspirations as well. Filled with plum, blueberry, licorice and dried-spice notes, this is a reasonably full-bodied wine with a long, dusty finish that would pair nicely with steaks or roasts.

Source: June Issue 2009 Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine 87 Best Buy
Ass Kisser Red 2005 (Shiraz Grenache Blend)

The blend is 59% Shiraz, 41% Grenache in this medium-bodied, low-tannin red. The aromas are dark - black cherry and plum - but the flavors are redder and juicier, with raspberry notes backed by cinnamon and clove. The label may be a bit polarizing, but the wine inside is well made and a solid value.

Source: May Issue 2009 Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine 85 Best Buy
Ass Kisser Shiraz 2007

This medium-bodied Shiraz is sturdily built without being too hard or too fat. Sure, it's a bit simple, relying on black cherry and plum fruit with modest hints of chocolate and spice, but there's plenty of intensity for the price.

Source: April Issue 2009 Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

"Jane's Monthly Dozen: New Australian Wines in Market"
- Atlanta based national wine writer Jane Garvey
2006 Rocland Estate Shiraz Barossa Valley Lot 147 - Score: 93

Warm Barossa Valley lies just a short distance—about 35 miles--north of Adelaide. The name, meaning “red earth,” was given the region in 1837 by Col. William Light, an English officer who had fought in the Battle of Barrosa (sic) in 1811, near Cádiz, Spain. Evidently seeing some similarities between the two lands, he was inspired to borrow the word to name the area. While other grapes are grown in the valley, the region is chiefly known for Shiraz. Hot days at the end of the growing season produce intense, rich flavors. This Shiraz shows that very character. Alcohol is high (15%), but the wine doesn’t read hot. Full-bodied, with a deep, dark purple red color, this Shiraz offers intense aromas of fresh and dried dark fruits. On the palate, equally intense dark fruits are big and somewhat jammy, but still balanced and not port-like. They provide great cover for intensely flavored dishes. Decant for several hours; two days after being opened, it still tasted great. Serve it cool, about 65ºF/17ºC, in tall tulip-shaped glasses with apricot-curry glazed grilled pork or chicken (singularly yummy), barbecue with a sauce that’s not sweet, legume dishes with tomato and lots of garlic, Indian lamb dishes that are spicy and aromatic but not too hot, grilled vegetables with olive oil. Dark chocolate is ok.

Source: January 2009 Issue of Connect With Wine.

"Jane's Monthly Dozen: New Australian Wines in Market"
- Atlanta based national wine writer Jane Garvey
2006 Rocland Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley Kilroy was Here! - Score: 91

So who was Kilroy? Answer that, and you’ll be well-rewarded with this Cabernet Sauvignon from Rocland Estate. Fleshy and full-bodied, this wine shows a deep, opaque well-extracted purple color. Aromas and flavors focus on all the Cabernet Sauvignon characters, including blackberry, cassis (black currant), and blueberry. French and American oak were used, but none of American oak’s typical aggressiveness is here, and the oak is beautifully integrated with the fruit. Tannins are supple and derived from fruit (rather than stems or barrels). Sweet fruit is intense but not over-the-top, and although alcohol is hefty (14.5%), the wine shows good balance. Serve cool to the touch in Bordeaux style glasses (tall tulip-shaped). Lots of foods go with this one: roast Cornish hen glazed with dark jam and some of the wine; prime rib; grilled or smoked meats; legume dishes with assertive flavors; bleu cheeses; dark chocolate.

Source: January 2009 Issue of Connect With Wine.

2008 Vintage Cellars National Wine Show of Australia 2006 Dry Red – Shiraz

Silver
2006 Kilroy was Here! Shiraz

Wine Styles Asia Wine Show

Gold Premium
Kilroy Was Here! Barossa Valley 2006 Shiraz

Silver
Rocland Estates Lot 147 2006 Shiraz

2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition

Double Gold
Kilroy was Here! 2006 Shiraz

Silver
Rocland Estates Lot 147 2006 Shiraz

Silver
Kilroy was Here! 2006 Sparkling Shiraz

2008 Silver Medal Royal Queensland Wine Show Class 31

Kilroy Was Here 2006 Shiraz

2008 Silver Medal New Zealand International Wine Show

Kilroy Was Here 2006 Cabernet

2008 Silver Medal New Zealand International Wine Show

Rocland Estates Lot 147 2006 Shiraz

James Halliday 2009 Australian Wine Companion

Lot 147 2006 Barossa Valley Shiraz

A Big generously endowed wine offering black fruits, dark chocolate, Plum and Mocha oak; soft and round mouthfeel and finish. 93 points.

James Halliday 2009 Australian Wine Companion

Kilroy Was Here 2006 Barossa Valley Shiraz

Full-on Barossa Valley Style, with considerable intensity and length to the array of black fruits, a touch of dark chocolate and oak. 91 points.

"Shiraz Makers Shine"
- Huon Hooke Wine Writer : Sydney Morning Herald

Rocland Estate is small and new. Franc Rocca came to the wine business from cut flowers, specialising in carnations and lisianthus. He has a winery and small vineyard on the Sturt Highway at Nuriootpa. His winemaker, Peter Gajewski, nicknamed Juicy, is ex-Penfolds and the two wines I've tasted to date have been very good.

The '06 Rocland Estate Lot 147 Shiraz is a statuesque red in big, bold but well-made modern Barossa style: very good, although the vines are young at eight years (94/100; $28). The second '06 shiraz, Kilroy Was Here, is an earlier drinking but still flavour-packed, robust red (92/100; $20). Its name refers to the US military habit of scrawling "Kilroy was here" graffiti wherever they travelled and, according to Rocca, is "all about making your mark in the world". Which is exactly what Rocland Estate is doing.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald April 22,2008.

Winestate Regional Tasting Rating : 5 Stars
Top In Category Australian & New Zealand

Kilroy Was Here! 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Source: Winestate Magazine July/August 2008

Winestate Regional Tasting Rating : 5 Stars
Top In Category Australian & New Zealand

Kilroy Was Here! 2006 Cabernet

Source: Winestate Magazine

Winestate Regional Tasting Rating : 5 Stars
Top In Category Australian & New Zealand

Kilroy Was Here! 2006 Shiraz

Source: Winestate Magazine March/ April 2008

Winestate Regional Tasting Rating Australian & New Zealand : 4½ Stars

Rocland Estate Lot 147 2006 Barossa Valley Shiraz

Subdued, brooding, inky nose with a rich, ripe, licorice/plum palate. Great flavour concentration and length. Smart oak. Will open up in time and should age very gracefully.

Source: Winestate Magazine March/April 2008

Winestate Regional Tasting Rating Australian & New Zealand : 4 Stars

Kilroy Was Here! 2006 Sparkling Shiraz

Source: Winestate Magazine July/August 2008

Philip White's Wine Picks of the Week
Kilroy Was Here! 2006 Shiraz

Somebody – maybe it was Kilroy – picked smart the vineyards to squeeze into this bargain bottle, which is wrapped for the USA. It’s of the Christmas pudding, stewed prune school, sweet, intense and syrupy. Nearly jammy and not very tannic, but with enough acidity to keep the tail bright and your tongue tingling. It’s ideal wine for contemplation, for these moody autumn afternoons. Watsonia cheddar, dried figs, dates, pickled walnuts, kassler and John Cale’s Circus Live smouldering in the speakers...

Source: Independent Weekly April 18- 24, 2008.

Grant Dodd - The Winning Pro
Kilroy Was Here! 2006 Shiraz

The second of the 'Kilroy' series from Rocland Wines goes down a treat. It has a lovely balance between dark ,warmly welcoming Barossa fruit flavours and savoury tannin structure ,finishing dry and with a gentle spice aftertaste. Well balanced and good drinking in anyone's language.

Source: The Winning Pro April 19th, 2008.

Royal Queensland Wine Show 2008
Kilroy Was Here! 2006 Shiraz

Kilroy Was Here 06 Barossa valley shiraz "Silver" medal award in the Royal Queensland Wine Show 2008 - not bad for a $20 shiraz beating high price point institutional wines in the same category.