Brokenwood Cricket Pitch Red Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot 2021 ~ Hunter Valley, Australia

92/100 Nick Butler, The Real Review (2017 vintage)
91/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage)

5 Star Winery - James Halliday

Nick Butler, The Real Review "Black olives and blueberries affirm its lead variety is present. A measured dose of fruit sweetness makes this open and accessible. It does have a latent concentration of red-berry fruit and acidity that underwrites its freshness and capacity to age. A modern, detailed Cricket Pitch." (2017 vintage)

James Suckling "A juicy and fun red with light tannins and lots of juicy fruit and currant, chocolate and light orange character. Medium body." (2017 vintage)

The Winemaker "Aromas of red cherry, spice and sweet oak. Mid-weight palate with some Cabernet Sauvignon cedar up front that leads to soft Shiraz richness. The oak regime is mainly older American and French so limited impact although some vanillin on both nose and palate with a long sweet finish. Excellent fruit flavours and balance being the features that will be maintained under the screw cap packaging"

The Winemaker "Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot South Eastern Australia Berry/leafy aromas are to the fore, due to the wine being almost two thirds Cabernet Sauvignon. A beautiful deep colour with youthful tints. Ripe Cabernet fruit complimented by the spice and plushness of the Shiraz component. Fine long tannins and acid line will see this age well over the medium term. A lovely drinking wine as always."

Another perennial Best Buy from the iconic Brokenwood Winery established by Australia's leading wine critic, James Halliday. If you are looking for a red wine that is outside the typical "BIG" Australian style, this wine is for you, with its food friendly drinkability, lower alcohol at 13.5% and a middle weight structure, it pretty well works with any meal.

The wine continues to show why it's one of Australia's favourite value red wines and consistently is a top medal and point winner year in and out. Great value!

James Halliday ~ "At 40+ years young, Brokenwood Wines, in the heart of the Hunter Valley, can lay claim to not only an iconic vineyard with the Graveyard Vineyard but to the preservation of a wine fraternity that proudly has as its mission statement, ‘to make great wine and have fun’."

Established in 1970 Brokenwood Wines is one of Australia's most reputable premium wine labels and a must-visit in the Hunter Valley. It was established by Australia's leading wine critic, James Halliday. Consistently listed as a 5-star winery, Brokenwood is home to the famous Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, the highly acclaimed ILR Reserve Semillon, and the popular Cricket Pitch Range.

The Hunter Valley is the best-known and most highly prized wine region in New South Wales. It is known as the region where the Australian wine industry started. The valley's winemakers have pioneered two distinctive styles of wine (oaked Chardonnay and dry Semillon) and has retained a strong connection with both of them. The Hunter Valley's most famous wine style is its distinctive dry Semillon, made there since the 1870s. Hunter Valley Semillons are renowned for their ability to improve with age.

Shiraz is the name given to the dark-skinned Syrah grape when grown in Australia and selected pockets of the New World. Though genetically identical, the stylistic differences between Shiraz and Syrah are usually pronounced.

Shiraz is so important to Australian viticulture that it is the most planted grape variety in the majority of Australian vineyards and has become virtually synonymous with the country's wine regions, and in particular the Barossa Valley.