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James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011 Edition...
Rookery Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2009 4.5 star rating 91 pts
Full of tropical passionfruit varietal expression on both bouquet and palate; has achieved this without moving into a flabby; overripe mode; Screwcap 13% alc. Rating 91
Rookery Wines Zinfandel 2008 4.5 star rating 90 pts
Strong purple - red aged in 100% new American Oak, but I'm not persuaded that was the right course; there is some pretty useful fruit here; presently entombed in that oak - I hope it escapes, because there's alot of potential here. Screwcap !3% alc. Rating 90
Rookery Wines Riesling 2009 4 star rating 88 pts
Rookery Halls Road Kangaroo Island Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
This wine shows that even when quite ripe, the Island cabernet tends to severe austerity. It has pleasing blackcurrant and prune fruit gel flavours, a hint of beetroot, and some pleasant dried apple pithiness, it's but amongst a wall of really forceful stewing greens: spinach, coffee and tea tin. It needs six to eight more years.
14.5% alcohol; screw cap; 90++ points
Phillip White
Wine writer
Rookery 2005 Sangiovese
Light to medium red; a mix of cigar box and sour cherry aromas and flavours; fine cedary / savoury tannins.
Screw cap 14.5% Alcohol.
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008Rookery "Rookery Red" Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot Merlot 2004
A fresh and vibrant cool climate Kangaroo Island South Australian red. Blackberries, black cherries and plums abound. Lively and uplifted fruit - ripe and fragrant. Seamlessly put together, medium bodied in style, smooth, soft and well rounded in mouthfeel, integrated oak and smooth tannins. Long, delicious and moreish. Try this with marinated roast chicken.
Drink to 2011. About $30. 94/100 - Excellent.
Paul Ippolito
18th February 2008
2004 Rookery Peak Cabernet Shiraz
THE 2004 Rookery Peak Cabernet Shiraz ($50, 94 points) is the flag-bearer for the winery in terms of price. It has good focus, line and length to a mix of blackcurrant, black cherry and blackberry fruit on a medium to full bodied palate. The overall extract, oak and tannins are in perfect balance. With its screwcap closure, the wine could cellar beyond 2024.
However it's hard to ignore the 2004 Rookery Cabernet Sauvignon ($30, 94 points); dense red-purple, it is flooded with blackcurrant and cassis, the ample structure supported by ripe tannins, the length and balance all you could ask for. At 14 per cent alcolohol, it is medium bodied and will be at its peak earlier than the cabernet shiraz (say, 2019) but with no reason to delay drinking it much sooner.
James Halliday
The Weekend Australian, June 30-July 1, 2007
Rookery Kangaroo Island Shiraz 2004
($30) Absolutely delicious spicy, fragrant, ripe style, backed by some oak notes. Spice cassis, mint, all leading to a finish with plush yet fine tannins. Suggests an exciting future. Rating 91.
Ken Gargett
Courier Mail, September 16-17, 2006
Rookery Kangaroo Island Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Here's a very powerful red that is long in the mouth, with seeming layers of flavour. The tannin support is balanced and persistent. A very serious cabernet from Kangaroo Island.
Highly Recommended
Screw cap or cork
GOLD AWARD
Winewise 2006
Judged by James Halliday, Nick Stock and Len Sorbello
Rookery Kangaroo Island Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Rookery Wines is a boutique family owned winery on Kangaroo Island in South Australia operated by Garry and Gael Lovering. Deep dark blackish purple in colour. A wine of substance from the first pour. Dark black fruits, blackcurrants, blackberries, currants, mulberries and a hint of menthol. Elegance and class through its structure and presentation. Glossy coffee oak, smooth succulent fruit, ripe tannins and long seamlessness on the finish. Very well put together by winemaker Garry Lovering and just right with Moroccan lamb rump fillet.
Drink to 2014. 93/100 - Excellent.
Paul Ippolito
Wine Writer, Sydney
Rookery Kangaroo Island Halls Rd Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Deep dark dense purple. A really lovely well structured Cabernet with loads of ripe blackcurrants, menthol character, licorice, dark bitter chocolate, blueberries and hints of plums. Cedary oak supports the fruit characters well. Good vibrant fresh and lively - quite dry in style on the finish with ultra fine tannins. Try this with chicken parmigiana.
Drink to 2016. 93/100 - Excellent.
Paul Ippolito
Wine Writer, Sydney
From the Australian Wine Companion 2008
James Halliday
Page 14-15: 'Ten of the best new wineries'
ROOKERY WINES Kangaroo Island | Page 555
Garry and Gael Lovering have planted 8.4 ha of vines on their Kangaroo Island vineyard, principally to cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, but with an interesting patch of sangiovese (and other even more exotic varieties). This joins The Islander Estate Vineyards (of Jacques Lurton of Bordeaux) in proving that Kangaroo Island is capable of making wines of the highest quality.
Page 18: 'Best wineries of the regions'
kangaroo island
Rookery Wines *****
The Islander Estate Vineyards *****
James Halliday
Page 14-15: 'Ten of the best new wineries'
ROOKERY WINES Kangaroo Island | Page 555
Garry and Gael Lovering have planted 8.4 ha of vines on their Kangaroo Island vineyard, principally to cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, but with an interesting patch of sangiovese (and other even more exotic varieties). This joins The Islander Estate Vineyards (of Jacques Lurton of Bordeaux) in proving that Kangaroo Island is capable of making wines of the highest quality.
Page 18: 'Best wineries of the regions'
kangaroo island
Rookery Wines *****
The Islander Estate Vineyards *****
