2018 release wines and the declassification of 2016 Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz

My first vintage at Brokenwood in 1983 saw the introduction of our Single Vineyard wines, starting with the Graveyard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and a bottling of Hermitage. The latter being 100% from the Graveyard Vineyard but we didn’t label as such. It was however labelled Graveyard Vineyard from 1984.


Iain Leslie Riggs - First vintage,1983.

Of the 35 vintages since, we have declassified 6 vintages. As the only Hunter Valley red wine on the Langton’s Classification of Australian wine (and at the highest rating – Exceptional) our goal is to maintain the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz as one of Australia’s very best.

After a difficult 2015 vintage the decision to declassify was easy but we felt with strict barrel selection there would be a small amount of 2016 Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz. At the time of writing, the wine has been in bottle for approximately 9 months and after retasting and considerable discussion, we again feel that the superb lineage we’ve built since 1983 would be compromised if we released it. Especially as the next release, now the 2017, will become the 30th vintage. Quality is paramount and the 2017 is an outstanding Hunter Valley Shiraz that will stand comfortably alongside the multi-award winning 2014 Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz.

So what becomes of the 2016 wine?

The 1968 plantings of the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz comprise of 4 blocks, one of which is known as “7 Acre” and a label we have previously used for a Shiraz from this vineyard. We typically release the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz at the end of May, so this year in its place will be the 2016 7 Acre Shiraz. Additionally we will be releasing the 2016 Tallawanta Vineyard Shiraz. This hallowed and heritage-listed vineyard is 98 years old and has produced some of the finest wines in the Hunter Valley; Brokenwood became the “honoured custodian” in 2014.

Both wines are available for pre-order, please contact members@brokenwood.com.au

We trust you will enjoy the wines to be released this year, and we look forward to seeing you at our wine club events.

Kind regards,

Iain Leslie Riggs
Chief Winemaker and Managing Director