The 2007 Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz is holding firmly to its youthful deep garnet-purple color. Very pretty, cool-climate fruit nose: violets, dark cherry, cumin, vanilla, anise, cassis and a bit of tar. Medium bodied with a tightly knit, elegantly fruited palate. Medium-high level of fine tannins and medium to high acid. Concentrated. Very long finish. 13.5% alcohol. 1000 cases produced. Drink 2013-2025. 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.Importer: Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA; www.oldbridgecellars.com

One of the Hunter Valley’s top bottlings, Brokenwood’s Graveyard Vineyard is still marked by hints of toasty oak at this young stage in its evolution. Vanilla accents lifted sour cherry and cranberry aromas, but on the palate the flavors darken and deepen, trending toward black cherries and plum. Has a nicely balanced, silky texture in the mouth, then a firm, long finish suggesting cellaring. Drink 2012-2025.——J.C.(2/1/2010)—— 91