Our Flagship Wines
Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz
The Langton's Classification of Australian Wine was first released in 1991 and honoured the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz with 'Outstanding'. The Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz remains the only Hunter Valley Shiraz in the Classification and was elevated to the highest category of ‘Exceptional’ and has remained for each release since.
The Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine has achieved such prestigious recognition because the criteria for inclusion are objective and market-driven, and the Classification is regularly revised and updated.
The Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz was named after original plans for the site which was to be a cemetery within Pokolbin, however it was never used as such. The first single vineyard selection for the Graveyard Vineyard was in 1983.
Originally planted with Shiraz and Cabernet, the heavy clay soil resulted in vintages of low yield but with extraordinary concentration of flavour in the berries, providing a distinctive and premium wine style.
Today the 15 hectare Graveyard Vineyard comprises solely of Shiraz and is broken up into a number of blocks named in good Brokenwood fun; Pa’s, 7 Acre, Bush, Duck’s, Road, Middle, End, Kat’s and Dog’s, State of Origin, Vegas and Trees.
As Brokenwood’s flagship wine, each new release is welcomed with the annual Graveyard Launch held in May. This exclusive event in the winery barrel shed sees around 300 guests on site for a day of beautiful dining, entertainment, and the first release tasting.
ILR Reserve Semillon
The ILR Reserve Semillon is named after Iain Leslie Riggs, who joined the winery in 1982. Iain has taken Brokenwood from a small 'hobby' winery into the national and international arena, and was the driving force in Brokenwood extending the range to white wines.
The ILR Reserve Semillon is an aged white wine that receives no oak. After tasting the wine over the first three years the decision was made to release at 5 years bottle age, in other words to have some bottle development but capable of aging further. In terms of winemaking it was a case of low (and now, zero) skin contact and neutral yeast. After changing to screw cap seals in 2003, we decided to increase the age on release to 6 years.
The ILR Reserve Semillon has been awarded ‘Best Semillon’ in the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion twice, for the 2009 vintage released in 2015 and the 2014 vintage released in 2020.
The Hunter Valley is famous for Semillon production, and is a perfect fit for the nearby Sydney foodie culture with its grassy fruit lift on both nose and palate.
HBA Shiraz
The genesis for the blend lies with all the great regional blends made in Australia in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Master winemakers like O’Shea, Preece and Haselgrove knew that different regions offered different characters. Many have been fortunate enough 40 or 50 years later to taste these blends and are staggered by their sublime character.
The Hardy’s Private Bin Burgundy was the best vat of the St Thomas Burgundy range, aged and then released later. This was a blend of usually just Hunter Shiraz and McLaren Vale Shiraz. These wines provided the inspiration for the HBA and when both the Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale have outstanding vintages, the combination of the two has to be rewarding.
