Brooks Road exhibits the compelling dynamic between savoury and fruit flavours which is textbook Shiraz from Clarendon. Sweet blueberry and rich red fruits interlace with notes of clove and menthol. The palate is expansive but pure finesses with a beautifully balanced acidity leading to a silky finish.
The Shiraz fruit is sourced from Hickinbotham’s 300 Block, 200 Block and 126 Block. The fruit is hand-picked, partially destemmed and crushed into open-top fermenters. Following a cold soak, the grapes see a gentle maceration of plunging and drain and returns during peak fermentation. Drained and pressed after 18 days on skins, the free-run goes directly to barrel and no pressings are included. Aged 15 months in predominantly 500-litre French oak puncheons (30% new) and a 25 hectolitre round foudre.
"Fine-grained tannin. Sweet, ripe fruit. Creamy mouthfeel. And while it all feels controlled, it feels luxurious throughout, perfumed, plush, those kind of vibes. There are sweet herb/tobacco-like characters here too and sophisticated, smoky edges. It’s still coming together but the fine spread of tannin, gorgeous flavour and reach through the finish all spell (high) quality."
95 points, The Wine Front (Feburary 2020)
"A striking wine for its extreme depth, as well as freshness. Ripe dark plums and blackberries bathe the nose and palate. This is lead in a fuller-bodied direction and makes a very youthful, bold and stoic impression on the palate. Fine now, but better in three to four years."
93 points, JamesSuckling.com (May 2020)
From the '71 contour plantings, hand-picked, 50% crushed, 40% destemmed, 10% whole bunch, gentle extraction during 18 days on skins, no pressings used, 6 months on lees, then racked to foudre and puncheons (30% new) for 9 months. This oak use will continue in all releases post '18. Extremely complex and intense, but perfectly balanced red and black fruits, tannins a feature.
98 points, Wine Companion (February 2020)
Fine-grained tannin. Sweet, ripe fruit. Creamy mouthfeel. And while it all feels controlled, it feels luxurious throughout, perfumed, plush, those kind of vibes. There are sweet herb/tobacco-like characters here too and sophisticated, smoky edges. It’s still coming together but the fine spread of tannin, gorgeous flavour and reach through the finish all spell (high) quality.
95 points, The Wine Front (February 2020)
Very deep, dense glass-staining purple colour. A dusty, earthy, oaky bouquet, which turns very sweetly-fruited on the palate, soft and succulent, almost syrupy, but nicely balanced in the final analysis. A big, hedonistic style of shiraz that will age well. (3% malbec, 10% whole bunches, 50% whole berries. Matured in a mix of barriques, foudre and puncheons, 30% new oak)
94 points, The Real Review (July 2020)
