Brokenwood
About Brokenwood
Founded in 1970 by a group of mere hobbyists with no winemaking background, Brokenwood has since established itself as one of Australia’s most reputable winemakers. In fact, James Halliday himself was one of the founding members of this stellar estate before selling out in 1983. Blessed with heavy clay soils that keep yields very low and berries concentrated, Brokenwood started producing Sémillon in 1983 and released the first vintage of the ILR Sémillon in 1992. Lasted tasted by Huon Hooke in 2010, the inaugural vintage garnered a stellar 96 points from Hooke!
Named after Director Iain Leslie Riggs who joined the team in 1982 and was credited with leading the winery into the international arena, the ILR Sémillon is aged without oak for 6 years before release, allowing more complex notes of bees wax and toast flavours to develop. Flanked by two monstrous scores from the 2 leading critics of Australian wines, the ILR Sémillon Reserve 2014 serves as a striking reminder of the pedigree of Hunter Valley Sémillon.
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(6x75cl) 2011Wine Advocate (94+)
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2011 Graveyard Shiraz exudes aromas of freshly crushed blackberries, red cherries and violets with hints of cedar, cinnamon stick, vanilla and Szechuan pepper. At just 13% alcohol this light to medium-bodied Shiraz offers a great intensity of flavor in a very elegant package that is supported by medium levels of finely-grained tannins, balanced acidity and a long finish. It should age very well and drink 2015 to 2026+.$1,005.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
One of Australia's icons. The decision not to use any new French oak, and to limit the alcohol to 13.5%, has resulted in a wine with a unique sense of place. It is also superbly balanced, dark fruits married to superfine tannins - another feature of a classic Hunter shiraz.$1,035.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Halliday Wine Companion (98)
The early release of Graveyard Shiraz (along with many other Brokenwood jewels ex the 2021 vintage) is presumably driven by the absence of any wines from the bushfire smoke contamination, but it's a lovely wine managing to look great in this year, and doubtless will in 20, 30 or 40 years' time too, take your pick. It has a complex bouquet, with some oak nuances in the backdrop, its masterful control of tannins is one of its secrets, red fruit joining the usual black and purple to complete the tale.$1,063.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
Pale straw-green - an extraordinary colour of an extraordinary wine. A fragrant bouquet floats out of the glass and introduces a palate that has the best of all worlds: lemon, lemon curd, beeswax and fruit spice with no hint of the searing acidity Hunter Valley semillon can throw at the unwary. Here it is perfectly (and naturally) balanced. A worthy companion to the sublime Graveyard Shiraz '18.$467.00
