Winery Outlinery: Broken Creek Vineyards (Shrewsbury, MA)

Welcome to a brand new feature here at Enuffa.com, Winery Outlinery (sister series of Brewery Reviewery)!  Yeah that's right, I'm branching out into wine reviews.  Thanks to Adam from EatDrinkLearn.com I've been drinking and discussing a lot of wine lately, so let's give this a go.  Hopefully I won't come off as a wine amateur....

Broken Creek Vineyard

​​614 South St 

Shrewsbury, Ma 01545

​brokencreekvineyard.com

This past weekend my family and I traipsed out to Worcester to see my mother sing at the Worcester Jazz Festival, and on the way home we drove through the Shrewsbury, MA neighborhood where I grew up.  Right down the street from our old house there just happens to be a young little winery called Broken Creed Vineyard.  Launched in late 2015 by Eric Preusse, Broken Creek is a small boutique vineyard offering an eclectic variety of reds, whites, and a few special editions, all of which have big, bold flavor and a ton of character.  Of all the wineries I've visited, Broken Creek has perhaps the most memorable roster of wines; each one is an unusual take on its respective varietal and they stick with you after you've left.  Tastings are $10 for five one-ounce pours and you get to keep your branded wine glass - that there is a bargain.  Broken Creek also books private events in their welcoming, rustic tasting room.

So let's dive in and talk about some wine, shall we?

Riesling: A dry white wine made with grapes sourced from California.  This wine has notes of nectarine and pineapple. ​

JB: My wife and I got into Rieslings a decade ago during a visit to the Finger Lakes (Riesling country), so I'm always on the lookout for a good dry one.  This fit the bill nicely; light and dry with just a hint of citrus.  The Riesling was my favorite of the whites and I picked up a bottle to go.


Chardonnay: This is a well balanced white wine with flavors of green apple, citrus and hints of vanilla.​

JB: Generally my favorite white varietal is an oaky, buttery Chardonnay.  Broken Creek's version is unoaked, drier than a typical Chard, with just a bit of fruitiness.  I liked this one too but preferred the Riesling. 


Vidal Blanc: Dry Estate grown white wine with zesty finish. Notes of green apple.

JB: This one was very different, a super tart white with strong sour apple notes.  Vidal Blanc is so bold I'm not sure I could drink a whole bottle of it, but you have to respect how unapologetic it is.  Vidal Blanc regrets nothing!


Rose: This is a watermelon-colored wine from Pinotage grapes sourced from South Africa.  It has notes of watermelon, dark cherry, strawberry and just a hint of lavender.

JB: Broken Creek's rose is unlike any I've tasted before, dry but simultaneously fruity and juicy, with delicate watermelon and strawberry notes and a grapefruit nose.  This one will make your mouth water.  The rose was a strong contender for a bottle purchase.

Maddie’s Rescue Red: A blend of our own Marquette grapes along with Merlot and Syrah grapes sourced from California.  This is a fruit-forward red wine with blackberry, spice, and dark cherry notes. Named after our own rescue dog Maddie, we will be donating $1.00 from each bottle sold to the Worcester Animal Rescue League.

JB: Moving on to the reds, Maddie's Rescue is rich and flavorful, with strong berry notes and a tinge of sweetness.


Marquette: Our own estate grown Marquette grapes. This light fruity red is a descendant of Pinot Noir.

JB: I think this was my favorite of the visit.  The Marquette opens up instantly like a good Pinot, but blasts your palette with bourbony caramel notes.  This one is unique and toothsome; if I'm running the place I'm making this the flagship wine.


Malbec: A medium-body red wine made with grapes sourced from Chile, with notes of cherry, plum, and a peppery finish. ​

JB: Another contender for Wine of the Day, the Malbec is a little tart, performing a balancing act of dry, sweet and spicy, each element subtle enough not to overpower the rest.


Vino Tinto: A blend of Carmenere grapes from Chile and Merlot grapes from California. This wine is a supple, dry crimson colored wine with soft tannins, black raspberry, cherry, and a hint of oak.

JB: The Vino Tinto has an earthy bouquet, while just a little oaky to the taste and finishing very slightly sour.  Another unusual mix of flavors combining for a unique overall taste.

Broken Creek Vineyards is just beginning to ship to nearby retail locations, but if you're in the Shrewsbury area, definitely pay them a visit.  Their wines just unabashedly announce themselves and are all so different from each other and other comparable varietals, you'll find something unforgettable and worth taking home.  I myself picked up a bottle of the Riesling, the Marquette and the Malbec and can't wait to crack them open.

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