Brokenwood Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 ~ Tasmania, Australia

95/100 - Nick's Wine Merchants
90/100 Decanter (2017 Vintage)
89/100 James Halliday (2016 Vintage)
90/100 The Real Review (2016 vintage)
90/100 James Halliday (2015 Vintage)

James Halliday 5 Star Winery

A unique wine produced on the island of Tasmania after the bushfires damaged the main vineyards of Beechworth.

Winemaker "A terrific year for Pinot Noir and it shows in every aspect of this wine made in the island home of Australia's best pinot noir, Tasmania. A pinot noir of unrestrained pleasure."

Nick's Wine Merchants "This wine is normally produced from Brokenwood’s Indigo vineyard located in Beechworth, however, the bushfires of 2020 meant that the fruit was smoke tainted and nothing could be picked. Fortunately, Brokenwood was able to source parcels of fruit from premium growers in Tasmania. Twenty five percent whole bunch fruit was included in the ferment with maturation taking place in French oak barriques for a period of 10 months.

Semi translucent bright dark red colour with black tinged edges and a light crimson hue. A fragrant mix of violets, sour to red cherries and winter strawberries mesh with forest floor, dried herb and spicy cedar notes. Light but powerful and highly moreish, the palate is filled with ripe red cherry and strawberry fruits which are cast against a back drop of fresh herb infusions, forest floor and spicy cedar. Very polished in its feel with a super fine tannin structure it finishes fresh with a long, savoury aftertaste.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%”

Decanter "Pleasantly herbal berry fruit quality with a hint of spice. Intense and full flavoured with some savoury in the background.
Drinking Window 2019 - 2023”

James Halliday "Cold soak and 10% whole bunch fermentation was followed by 12 months in predominantly used French barriques. The wine is savoury and assertive, varietal fruit yet to take front stage. The vintage was hot, fast and furious, and I hope time will knit the flavours into a coherent whole.”

James Halliday "Good colour and good wine, but there is a question about the length and the finish. There's a lot of plum and dark cherry first up, but it wobbles on the finish with lack of focus and drive.”

Brokenwood has been producing Pinot Noir from the Indigo Vineyard since 2002. Due to the impact of the bushfires that affected the East Coast of Australia in 2020, we were unable to pick any fruit from Beechworth. The state of Tasmania is widely recognised as one of Australia’s premium cool climate regions and we were able to secure Pinot Noir from a number of the state’s exciting sub-regions. Thankfully Tasmania was unaffected by smoke in 2020. Sufficient winter rainfall in 2019 saw the vines off to a great budburst. A long cool, growing season saw the vines in good health with the grapes being picked just before a late autumn deluge. Harvest progressed under clear blue skies.

Winemaker "Red berry and bramble fruit notes with a slight Campari edge – very attractive aromas. A much brighter colour from the 2019 vintage. The palate starts out with crunchy red fruits complimented by the whole bunch used in fermentation. Lovely ripe tannins with a fresh acid backbone to carry the flavours right to the finish. The lingering after taste makes for a very enjoyable Pinot Noir. Food Pairing suggestions duck and Pinot is a classic combination, also try with quail and steak tartare."

The Real Review, Toni Patterson "A well-made, gentle, succulent pinot noir. Ripe berry fruit, good depth of flavour and gentle background savouriness. I enjoy the integrity of the varietal expression. Decanting is not essential; however, it will uncover more layers in the wine. Easy to enjoy." (2016 vintage)

Australian Wine Companion "Brokenwood consistently produces excellent wines. Its big-selling Hunter Semillon provides the volume to balance the limited quantities of the flagships ILR Semillon and Graveyard Shiraz. Brokenwood purchased the Graveyard Vineyard from Hungerford Hill in 1978 and has fully rehabilitated the vineyard in a vine-by-vine exercise. There is also a range of wines coming from regions including Beechworth (a major resource is the Indigo Vineyard), Orange, Central Ranges, McLaren Vale, Cowra and elsewhere. In 2017 Iain Riggs celebrated his 35th vintage at the helm of Brokenwood, offering a unique mix of winemaking skills, management of a diverse business and an unerring ability to keep Brokenwood’s high profile fresh and newsworthy. He also contributed a great deal to various wine industry organisations."

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.

At nearly 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'.

The original land that was to become the Cricket Pitch Vineyard was purchased in 1970 and planted immediately to Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Graveyard Vineyard, planted to Shiraz in 1968, was bought in 1978 and by the mid 1980s was producing a premium Single Vineyard wine. The first Langton's Classification of Premium Australian Wine was launched in 1993 and the Graveyard Shiraz was then, and remains, the highest-placed Hunter Valley Shiraz.

The Hunter Valley is renowned for its dry table wines of Semillon and Shiraz. Brokenwood's production of these is further supported by premium grapes from as far afield as Orange, Beechworth and McLaren Vale.

Today, Brokenwood boasts an impressive array of premium quality wines, sourced from 'all the right regions, for all the right reasons', from the Graveyard Shiraz to the Cricket Pitch Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and Cricket Pitch Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot.

“Our philosophy is to produce wine that focuses on the unique regional characteristics of the Hunter Valley and premium wine regions throughout Australia.” Iain Riggs, Chief Winemaker & Managing Director, Brokenwood Wines.

Pinot Noir is the dominant red wine grape of Burgundy, now produced in wine regions all over the world, including western Germany, northern Italy, Chile, South Africa, Australia and, perhaps most notably, California, Oregon and New Zealand.

The essence of Pinot Noir wine is its aroma of strawberry and cherry (fresh red cherries in lighter wines and stewed black cherries in weightier examples), underpinned in the most complex examples by hints of forest floor. Well-built Pinot Noirs, particularly from warmer harvests, also exhibit notes of leather and violets, sometimes approaching the flavor spectrum of Syrah.