Brokenwood

Hunter Valley

Star Rating:

www.brokenwood.com.au

Address
401-427 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin, NSW 2321
Hunter Valley NSW
Telephone
(02) 4998 7559
Facsimilie
(02) 4998 7893
Winemaker
Iain Riggs, PJ Charteris
Established
1970
Cases
100 000
Vineyards
64 hectares

James' Review

This deservedly fashionable winery, producing consistently excellent wines, has kept Graveyard Shiraz as its ultimate flagship wine, while extending its reach through many of the best eastern regions for its broad selection of varietal wine styles. Its big-selling Hunter Semillon remains alongside Graveyard, and there is then a range of wines coming from regions including Orange, Central Ranges, Beechworth, McLaren Vale, Cowra and elsewhere. The two-storey Albert Room tasting facility (named in honour of the late Tony Albert, one of the founders) was opened in 2006. Exports to all major markets.

Author: James Halliday

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About this winery

Celebrating the Return of our Flagship GRAVEYARD VINEYARD SHIRAZ after a One Year Absence!

by Iain Riggs, Chief Winemaker/Managing Director


THE release of the  25th vintage of the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz on Saturday 28th May 2011 was a typically noisy and humorous affair. No doubt part of this was due to the 75-odd Brokenwood shareholders, staff and friends helping out.


The barrel shed hosted 280 happy supporters, who dined on some great Robbie Molines' food and were entertained by guest speaker Gretel Killeen. Part of the festivities was no doubt due to this being a special release - vintage number 25 and the fact that there wasn't a Graveyard Shiraz from 2008. It is also the first release since Graveyard's elevation to the top ranking 'Exceptional' of the Langton's Classicficattion of Australian Wine.


Mid-January in the Hunter Valley always brings with it a slight nervousness in the wine industry. Having been battered in both previous years - drought in 2007 and pouring rain in 2008 - it is no wonder. Black cats are certainly not wanted and ladders given a wide berth.


Vintage 2009? The rain that plagued the '08 vintage finally eased up at the end of April and there were no rain days in May. The middle three winter months, normally dry for us, saw another 250mm (10 inches) and then odd rain days through to the year end. 2008's rain totalled 957mm, well above average. Fruit set was not as complete as we'd wanted but resulted in long loose bunches, especially in the Shiraz.


We had a good result. All the whites were off by the last week of January, but we had to wait on the reds with an interruption on 90mm of rain. There were another 30mm on the 4th February and then fine weather which got the sugars up. Just to make certain of the quality, all fruit went across the sorting table.


A four-day cold soak, five-day ferment with hand plunging two times per day in small two-tonne fermeters, then run off to oak. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrels -  mostly French.



Exceptional Status: Langton's Classification of Australian Wine V

Now Available: 2009 Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz


 

Specialties

HIT 4 SIX - 3each of CP White & Red - $89/pk (save $25)
A GREAT CATCH - 6x Cricket Pitch White - $89/pk (save $25)
CHARDONNAY LOVERS - 3each of UW Chardonnay & Chardonnay - $99/pk (save $42)
SIZZLING SIPPERS - 4each of Semillon, CP White & UW Chardonnay - $189/pk (save $55)

Cellar Door

Sun: 10:00am till 5:00pm
Mon: 9:30am till 5:00pm
Tue: 9:30am till 5:00pm
Wed: 9:30am till 5:00pm
Thu: 9:30am till 5:00pm
Fri: 9:30am till 5:00pm
Sat: 9:30am till 5:00pm

'The line up of great wines for tasting makes this place a must, and the service here from experienced tasting staff is second to none' - Huon Hooke
Stocklist

Download the latest stocklist - Brokenwood Distributors_web.pdf

Distribution Information

Samuel Smith & Son
6-8 Crewe Place
Roseberry NSW 2018

p (02)8344 8244
www.samsmith.com

International Sales Information

Not Available

Information Provided By: Brokenwood
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