Brookfields Vineyards - Winery Feature: 22 March 2023.
Brookfields was founded as a winery in 1937 - making it Hawke’s Bay Oldest Boutique Winery. Peter purchased the winery back in 1977, and has been crafting classic, character filled wines with grape varietals grown in specific vineyard sites and to his strict growing policy - expressing essence of place. Each new vintage brings its own challenges, this year an unprecedented cyclone hit the region hard a month out from harvest, so extra diligent work has gone into their vineyards in 2023. The weather for the past two weeks has been ideal and the forecasted conditions for the region are looking promising, so the team at Brookfields are still positive of some quality fruit parcels this vintage.
As Peter had said throughout his career - “It is my strong belief that superior wine comes from superior fruit; great wines are made in the vineyard”. At Brookfields, Peter lets each vintage speak for itself, giving each parcel of fruit individual attention, so as to best express each vineyard site, grape variety and the age of the vines. Peter is often referred to as ‘a quiet achiever’, diligently going about his business, shunning the spotlight, letting his wines speak for themselves. Over the years, those wines have certainly been telling a fascinating story.
As Brookfields Vineyards steps forward into its 86th year - Peter continues to set high standards in all that he does, and these character filled wines reaffirm why Peter and Brookfields are a genuine icon in the wine industry.
Brookfields ‘Marshall Bank’ Chardonnay 2021
Grape Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Growing Region: Hawke’s Bay - New Zealand
Owner / Winemaker: Peter Robertson
5 Stars ★★★★★
After fermenting to dry, the wine was lee stirred weekly, integrating complex flavours and character until it was racked. Peter decided only 20% of this Chardonnay needed to go through malolactic fermentation, giving a vibrant core to the cuvée. The total time spent in a mix of new and old French oak barrels was around 10 months.
• Enticing aromas of ripe peaches, rock-melon, along with vanilla oak notes. These carry seamlessly onto the meticulous and sophisticated palate. The wine has a gentle generosity, celebrating rockmelon, grilled peaches, a note of brioche toast from the use of wild yeast and time in French oak. The partial malolactic fermentation has given balance and retained fruit acidity giving vibrancy, defining structure, layered complexity, elegance and a classic dry finish.
• Chill gently & serve between 9°- 10°C : 14% Alc. - Classic Dry Style : Cellar 4 - 5 years : *NZ$39.00
Brookfields ‘Barrique Fermented’ Viognier 2022
Grape Varietal: 100% Viognier
Growing Region: Hawke’s Bay - New Zealand
Owner / Winemaker: Peter Robertson
5 Stars ★★★★★
The low cropping vines were handpicked in late March. The parcels were whole bunch pressed and fermentation took place in a mix of new and seasoned oak barriques. The wine was then left to develop on its own lees for around 9 months giving the wine a charismatic depth and breadth not often seen with a Viognier.
• On the nose you will be engaged by a summer breeze of cut lemon grass, a subtle note of peaches and wild seasonal herbs. Across the generous though definitely elegant palate you are reunited with those ripe juicy peaches, along with being introduced to a splash of honeysuckle, along with an almond pastry character from the deft use of seasoned oak barriques and then wrapping things up nicely in a bow with a clean dry finish.
• Chill gently & serve between 9°- 10°C : 14% Alc. - Classic Dry Style : Cellar 3 - 4 years : *NZ$32.00
Brookfields ‘Sun-Dried’ Malbec 2021
Grape Varietal: 100% Malbec
Growing Region: Hawke’s Bay - New Zealand
Owner / Winemaker: Peter Robertson
4½ Stars ★★★★☆
Hand-picked and then ‘sun-dried’ in trays before being made into wine. Open fermentation tanks were used for hand plunging. Due to the sun-drying, the cap is quite thick and demands more attention than normal when plunged. After pressing, and malolactic fermentation, the Malbec went into one and two year old French oak barrels for aging.
• On the nose engaging intense dark berries and spiced-chocolate aromas which carry through onto the palate combining with ripe black plums, liquorice, berry jam on toast, cinnamon, dried spices and vanilla oak are all harmoniously integrated thus forming the 2021 ‘Sun-Dried’ Malbec. This wine has wonderful richness and depth due to the excellent grapes it was made from. It is Malbec on steroids and one of the best Peter has made.
• No decanting & serve between 16°- 17°C : 14% Alc. - A Dry Style : Cellar 4 - 5 years : *NZ$32.00
Brookfields ‘Highland’ Merlot 2021
Grape Varietal: 100% Merlot
Growing Region: Hawke’s Bay - New Zealand
Owner / Winemaker: Peter Robertson
4½ Stars ★★★★☆
The Merlot grapes were fermented and pumped over in the traditional Bordeaux manner. Time on skins exceeded two weeks, with the malolactic fermentation being completed prior to the wine going into oak barrels which were a mix of new and one year old French oak barriques, where it developed gracefully for 12 - 13 months before tasting.
• Generous in black plums, dried herbs, spice, cigar box oak and commanding young tannins. This wine reflects the quality grapes and French oak barrels used in its making. Balanced complexity, this ‘Highland’ Merlot will age well for many years. Only the eighth ‘Platinum’ label since 1989. The ‘Highland’ label is reserved for Merlot wines of excellence. This label features the ‘Robertson’ tartan. *(If opened before 2025 - decant for 50-60 mins)
• Decanting & serve between 16°- 17°C : 14% Alc. - Classic Dry Style : Cellar 8 - 10 years : *NZ$48.00
Brookfields ‘Hillside’ Syrah 2021
Grape Varietal: 100% Syrah
Growing Region: Hawke’s Bay - New Zealand
Owner / Winemaker: Peter Robertson
5 Stars ★★★★★
The intensely flavoured Syrah berries were destemmed, crushed and fermented in closed tanks. Following pressing, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation and then racked into new French oak barriques. This premium expression of Syrah was allowed to develop at its own pace in oak barrels for 18 months, before being estate bottled.
• An iconic, benchmark expression, this ‘Hillside’ Syrah is rich and dark with concentrated black berries, dark plums, black pepper, liquorice, dried spice and vanilla French oak. There is a magic element to the ‘Hillside’ Syrah - so much is happening from multiple layers of flavour. Elegantly balanced and seamlessly complex - will age for many years like its predecessors. The 2021 growing season in this vineyard, was one of the best.
• Decanting & serve between 17°- 18°C : 13.5% Alc. - Classic Dry Style : Cellar 10 - 12+ years : *NZ$68.00
Brookfields ‘Gold Label’ Cabernet / Merlot 2020
Grape Varietals: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot & 10% Cabernet Franc
Growing Region: Hawke’s Bay - New Zealand
Owner / Winemaker: Peter Robertson
5 Stars ★★★★★
The 3 varietals were tank fermented on skins for around 14 days with daily pump overs. The juice was then drained off and the grapes pressed. Only the best pressings were added back to the free run juice. Malolactic fermentation took place before it was transferred into predominantly new French oak barrels for around 13 months.
• This 2020 ‘Reserve Vintage’ Cabernet / Merlot embraces the tradition established by this blend. Cabernet Sauvignon is the backbone with Merlot adding to the fruit profile while the Cabernet Franc is the catalyst that enhances and unifies the mid palate. Multi-layered showcasing blackberries, blackcurrants, dried herbs, earthy spices and cigar box. The new French oak adds structure to the palate which is generous and harmonious. Cellaring will be rewarded.
• Decanting & serve between 17°- 18°C : 14% Alc. - Classic Dry Style : Cellar 10 - 12+ years : *NZ$68.00
*(prices, vintages & availability will vary by outlet & country)
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