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Brokenwood

Brokenwood

Brokenwood

  • Australia
Founded in 1970 as a hobby venture by three Sydney-based solicitors - Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic James Halliday - Brokenwood is perhaps best known for their Cricket Pitch label, which was first sourced from a 4-hectare block at the foothills of the Hunter Valley's Brokenback Ranges. The block was originally earmarked as the local cricket ground before they decided to plant a vineyard instead. Brokenwood also purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz.

Iain Riggs joined Brokenwood in 1982 as Chief Winemaker and Managing Director and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production. Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain was also been the driving force behind Brokenwood's expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales, and in 2003 received the Graham Gregory Award for services to the New South Wales wine industry. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and high-quality expressions of Australian terroir. Iain stepped down from winemaking in 2020, however remains on as a director and consultant. Winemaking is now in the hands of Senior Winemaker Stuart Hordern and Winemaker Kate Sturgess, with Kat Barry as the Hunter Valley Vineyards Manager.

Their highly-lauded ILR aged Semillon range was first released in 1997. These wines are aged for 6 years on release, and made only in the best years. Their fantastic 2015 ILR Semillon received 94 points from James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion; at 6 years of age on release, the colour is starting to show some development with yellow tints complimenting the green edges. Classic beeswax, toast and brioche aromas on the nose with lively Tahitian lime juice and key lime characters, backed by a superb zesty acidity. The magic of Hunter Valley Semillon on display with texture, fruit weight and length that will build with further cellaring.