BROKENWOOD ILR Reserve Semillon 2003

Robert Parker Score: 92 points

Reviewer: Lisa Perrotti-Brown — 18827 Apr 2010

Drink 2020–2020

Initialed after Brokenwood’s winemaker since 1983, Ian Leslie Riggs, the 2003 ILR Reserve Semillon is a barrel selection blend coming from the estate’s prime vineyards (varying each year). 2003 was a hot, dry year, producing just 500 cases of the ILR Reserve. A little closed to begin, with coaxing this wine gives youthful, fragrant floral aromas of orange blossom and honeysuckle with fresh lemon juice, lemongrass and a touch of black pepper. Crisp acidity, intensely flavored with a light to medium body. Very long finish. Drink now to 2020+.

Founded in 1970, Brokenwood, by virtue of its illustrious founders (3 lawyers from Sydney) and a proven track-record for producing superlative wines, is today amongst the Hunter Valley’s icons. Production is now at around 100,000 cases with about 50% of this being accounted for by the Cricket Pitch Red and White. Hunter Valley fruit constitutes around 25% of production and it’s their wines from this region that really make Brokenwood outstanding. Brokenwood’s famous Graveyard Vineyard was planted in 1968 using Shiraz cuttings from the vineyards of a couple of the Hunter’s oldest examples: Tyrrell’s and McWilliams. The soils at Graveyard are relatively infertile, slowing the ripening process and giving small vines.