2001 Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz
This is a more typical Graveyard (1994, 1996?) with mid-weight frame and long soft, earthy briar flavours.
Vinification: Bottled August 2002. 4 day cold soak, 5 day ferment in 2 tonne open fermenters, malolactic fermentation in new oak, 70% French and 30% American.
Tasting Notes: Mid density, with purple tints. Hallmark Hunter/Graveyard aromas. Principally of red fruits – cherry and red currant, with briar wood and sweet earthy notes. Subdued oak (surprisingly, as was nearly 90% new), so vanillin in background to red cherry, and mocha. The wines class/pedigree shows in the long savoury tannins and lingering sweet fruit. A refined subtle Hunter Shiraz that, at first, hides it power.
Alc/Vol: 13.3%
Other Reviews...
The dense purple-colored 2001 Shiraz Graveyard, while tight and backward, is very concentrated, pure, medium to full-bodied, and impressively endowed with chocolate, smoke, black currant, and licorice aromas as well as flavors. However, patience is warranted. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2014.
Rating 90 points
Robert Paker - Wine Advocate #148 (August 2003)
The black fruits of the bouquet have touches of regional earth backed by subtle oak; the palate offers much sweeter flavours, mixing blackberry and cherry through to a long finish.
Drink by 2021
95 points
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion