Reviews for Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon

DateTitle
15 Dec 2009

PDF		 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
SMH / Good Living Magazine - Wine
by Huon Hooke

HERE'S CHEERS TO SOME OF OUR BEST
Our winemakers have done themselves proud in the face of adversity.
The Year 2009 in wine has been a difficult one … somehow, Australian winemakers kept producing some superb wines…

SEMILLON
2005 Brokenwood Brycefield & Belford Vineyards Semillon, Hunter Valley, $36
Waxy, lanolin, herbal and mineral aromas rocket from the glass, with a trace of buttered toast from the beginnings of bottle-age. This is a stunning, semi-mature, traditional-style Hunter Semillon with an amazingly youthful and lively palate presence. Drink for 10-plus years.

POINTS: 96/100
1 Oct 2009

 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
Wine & Spirits


91 POINTS
2005 Hunter Valley Brycefield Belford Vineyards Semillon
The aroma is broad, appearing oxidative when first poured, then developing compex mineral scents and white florals. The fruit evolves into tangerine and high-toned spice - cumin and cardamom, if they could be delicate and subtle. The texture is generous and creamy, the flavours intriguing. Built to age.
20 Sep 2009

PDF		 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
Pepople's Palate
by Rich Mauro

UNDERSTANDING HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON

… there is something about the combination of sandy, loamy, clay soils, high humidity, hot but wet summers, and dry winters there that create a hospitable environment for a style of Semillon that is austere and delicate when young. But, thanks to the high acidity, have a rare ability to age (some reportedly as long as twenty plus years) into wines with a wondrous richness and complexity…

… The 2005 Brycefield Belford Vineyards (11%, $32) gives hints to what happens as Hunter Valley Semillon ages. The aroma has broadened, showing citrus, fig, tangerine and butterscotch, along with grassy and mineral (talc?) notes. The palate is still extremely lively with more tangerine, citrus and some spice. The texture has rounded and filled out. Will evolve for several more years.

It’s fun to drink now but it should evolve nicely five more years.

These Hunter Valley Semillons are great wines in the making, if you have the patience to wait for them. Who says white wines can't age?!
8 Aug 2009

PDF		 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
Weekender - The Newcastle Herald
by John Lewis

OLIVE green-tinted straw in the glass, this more developed style semillon has lime blossom and lemongrass scents. Lemon curd flavour features on the front of the palate and subtle kiwifruit and toast and honey elements come through on the middle palate. The finish has flinty acid. It comes from grapes grown at Belford and on the Brycefield vineyard at Lovedale and is available in some wine stores, at the McDonalds Road, Pokolbin winery and at www.brokenwood.com.au
5 STAR RATING
1 Aug 2009

 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
Wine Review Online
by Gerald Boyd

Both vineyards, at the north end of the valley, have sandy soils, producing complementary Semillon grapes. Only stainless steel and no malolactic give the wine a crisp acidity with ample fruit. A light gold colour and lifted grassy-melon-fig aroma gives way to medium-bodied flavours showing loads of grass and citrus. Brokenwood has kicked the interest and quality of their Semillon up a notch with this excellent wine.
92 POINTS

*The 92 point score represents the highest score in this tasting across a number of renowned Aussie Semillons.
1 Aug 2009

PDF		 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
WINE 100 - Australia's Leading Independent Wine Guide


THIS is a very classy Hunter Semillon which is drinking delightfully now and for the medium-term. A bouquet of lanolin, lemongrass and fresh nuts introduces a fresh and backward palate with aged characters just beginning to build. It has great minerality, talc-like finesse and excellent purity and length.
RATING: 95 points
RRP: $36
14 Jul 2009

PDF		 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
Good Living Magazine - WINE, Sydney Morning Herald
by Huon Hooke

TOP AUSSIE WHITE
Brokenwood Brycefield/Belford Vineyards Semillon 2005, $36

One of a trio of Brokenwood made in '05 in the Hunter semillon styles of chablis, riesling and white burgundy. This is the burgundy. Buttery aged bouquet, fresh and lemony but now nicely complex. Now to six years-plus.
RATING: 94/100
FOOD: Pan-fried fish
1 Jul 2009

PDF		 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
International Wine Cellar: Australian Report
by Josh Raynolds

92 POINTS
Light yellow-gold. A complex bouquet displays scents of beeswax, pear skin, honey and herbs, with a strong undercurrent of zesty minerals. Dry, finely etched citrus and orchard fruit flavours show very good depth and pick up dusty mineral and lime zest notes on the back end. A wine of noteworthy balance and vivacity, with excellent finishing clarity and mineral thrust.
19 Jun 2009

PDF		 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
The Manly Daily - WINE
by Rick Allen

AGED BEAUTY
I know, I know, the price might scare some people off - but for semillon lovers out there (I'm a card-carrying tragic) this is delicious. It is a blend of fruit from two vineyards (hence the name) and has been held back and released at four years of age - letting the first hints of aged complexity show through. It's fruit driven and tight as a drum, with grass, lime and lemon citrus all in perfect harmony. Fresh oysters or a juicy snapper please. $35
1 Jun 2009

PDF		 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
WineFoot - Stomping the Snob out of Wine!


BROKENWOOD SEMILLON 3-WAY REVIEW
As many Americans are discovering riesling as a wonderful white grape - Australian wine producers are really ratcheting up their production of an often over-looked grape - Semillon. This grape is typically a very food-friendly wine with good acidity that leaves your mouth feeling very clean afterwards - it's generally not a variety that folks who love a velvety mouthfeel would gravitate towards.

Brokenwood wines was established in 1970 and had its first vintage in 1973 - its been fully cemented as a premium Australian producer that has razor-sharp focus on producing wines which not only reflect each vineyard's unique terrior - but ones that they feel offer a good experience for the money and as you may know - I'm all about that.

2005 BRYCEFIED/BELFORD VINEYARD SEMILLON - W.E.P.Rating: 100%
NOSE: A massive attack of grass clippings, grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, lime and citrus peel. Baby powder-covered grandma's locker from the attic!
TASTE: Sparkly citrus action with a lawnmower-bag full of fresh grass clippings on top. Granny's mildew-laden foot-locker with red delicious apple is in full effect and the sheer flavour, nose and finish on this wine make it - hands down - the best Semillon I've had from a 'new world' producer. I'm feelin' it, diggin' it and would gladly recommend it. I know $30-plus dollars is a chunk for a lot of people these days, however, for me - this wine brings some nice complexities with it.
31 May 2009

PDF		 2005 Brokenwood Brycefield Belford Vineyard Semillon
St. Louise Eats and Drinks - http://stlouiseeats.typepad.com/st_louise_eats_and_drinks_/2009/05/this-weeks-wine-may-31-2009.html
by Joe & Anne Pollack

A NEW LOOK AT SEMILLON
I've not been a fan of Semillon, always thinking that the wine fell short of excellence, no matter who made it. When it was blended in Sauvignon Blanc, for example, it tended to make the final result flabby.

… I recently tasted some Semillons from Brokenwood, an Australian winery, that I thought were terrific. A 2005, from the Brycefield and Belford Vineyards ($32), in another part of the valley, showed the extra age, with a wine that was more mellow and beautifully balanced, but still with brightness and nice citrus and melon. Neither wine has ever seen oak, or malolactic fermentation. Like so many Australian whites, it's a screw-cap wine, which may be an improvement at a picnic.

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