About this wine
The ILR Reserve Semillon is Brokenwood's benchmark aged Hunter Valley Semillon and one of the region's most celebrated white wines. Named in honour of Iain Leslie Riggs — the winemaker who joined Brokenwood in 1982 and drove its expansion into a nationally and internationally recognised producer — the wine is made without any oak contact and released only after roughly six years of bottle age under screw cap. The 2019 vintage was awarded Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards. Young examples show lemon, lime, dry herbs and a flick of peach kernel; with the extended cellaring Brokenwood insists on before release, the wine develops toast, brioche, lemon curd, beeswax and honeysuckle notes while retaining vibrant, structuring acidity, and can continue to evolve for another two decades or more.
A rare wine style: crisp and citrusy in youth, but transforms into a honeyed, toasty white after a decade or more — a great introduction to how Semillon ages.
Sommelier's Note
"The definitive proof that Hunter Valley Semillon is Australia's most unfairly underrated white wine style — no other grape transforms this dramatically in bottle."
Food Pairings
A classic match for Asian cuisine and all forms of seafood, especially freshly shucked oysters, prawns and grilled fish, where its bright acidity cuts through richness and lifts delicate flavours.
When to drink it
Special-occasion seafood dinners, wine club tastings, and any moment calling for a benchmark example of aged Hunter Valley white wine.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Semillon
- Style
- White
- Alcohol
- 11.5%
- Price Range
- ¥8,000-18,000 (reference conversion from overseas retail price, varies by vintage)
Terroir & Winemaking
Fruit is hand-picked early to preserve natural acidity, gently pressed and fermented in stainless steel with no oak contact and no malolactic fermentation. The wine is held back by the winery and released with a minimum of around six years of bottle age under screw cap, a practice adopted after the switch to screw caps in 2003.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is it called 'ILR Reserve'?
- ILR stands for Iain Leslie Riggs, the longtime Brokenwood winemaker who joined in 1982 and built the winery's reputation, including its expansion into premium white wines.
- How long should I age ILR Reserve Semillon before drinking?
- Brokenwood itself holds the wine back for around six years before release, and top vintages can continue developing for two decades or more in bottle.
- What does ILR Reserve Semillon taste like?
- Young, it is crisp with lemon, lime and dry herb notes; with age it develops toast, brioche, lemon curd and honeyed, beeswax complexity while retaining vibrant acidity.
- What food pairs well with this wine?
- Seafood is the classic match, particularly oysters, prawns and grilled fish, as well as Asian cuisine — the wine's acidity balances richness and spice.
Want to know more about this wine?
Ask Vinami's sommelier — no intimidation, just answers.
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