Bannockburn Serre Pinot Noir 2022

Certified organic. The 2022 marks a resounding return. This iconic vineyard is responsible for Bannockburn’s most memorable Pinot Noir. The 1.2 hectares of densely planted, low-yielding, own-rooted vines (9,000 per hectare) were planted exclusively to the MV6 clone in 1984 and 1986. The vines sit on the estate’s signature volcanic, basalt and limestone-rich soils. It is likely that this is Australia’s oldest plot of densely planted Pinot Noir—which goes some way to explaining the striking complexity and intense concentration of its wines.    In contrast to the De La Terre, the fruit for Serré was entirely destemmed before fermenting on skins for 10 days. The wine was pressed to hogsheads (33% new) and then left to mature on lees until February 2023. It will reward patience but will provide plenty of joy for those who cannot or will not, wait.

Bannockburn Serre Pinot Noir Magnum 2022

Bannockburn De La Terre Pinot Noir 2022

Certified organic. De La Terre is a beautiful sloping vineyard that was planted in 2007 at 10,000 vines per hectare. Still quite rare in an Australian setting, the planting density results in very low natural yields of, typically, 500 grams or less per vine (i.e. Burgundy Grand Cru levels). De La Terre lies beside the Serré vineyard, although it sits on the slope, whereas Serré is on a small plateau directly above. Despite this proximity, the wines are surprisingly different; De La Terre giving an inkier, wilder and spicier expression of Pinot than Serré. Along with the slope, the clonal selection (777), and north-south row orientation (rather than the east-west of Serré) contribute to the difference in character.  Though penned in 2012, James Halliday’s “reminiscent of a young DRC,” remark remains a ringing endorsement for this close-planted site. After its brief hiatus, the 2022 serves as a wonderful reminder of the heights this site can scale. The fruit fermented with 100% whole bunches for 10 days before the juice was removed from its stems. The wine then matured in hogsheads (25% new).

Bannockburn S.R.H. Chardonnay Magnum 2022

The S.R.H needs little introduction. It is, without doubt, one of the finest single-site Chardonnays grown in Australia. The source of the S.R.H. is 12 rows of Bannockburn’s oldest Chardonnay vines (P58) in the Olive Tree Hill vineyard. The root systems for these well-established, low-yielding vines are firmly entrenched in the ancient marine sediments that form the bedrock in this area. The 2022 was pressed as whole bunches to tank, where it settled overnight. The must fermented in French hogsheads (33% new) and the wine remained on lees for 10 months with no stirring and 70% malolactic conversion. The 2022 showcases the dense concentration and power held by these 12 rows of vines, yet the wine remains pure, measured and fine—this is a testament to the man who planted these vines as well as the current custodians.

Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2022

This “outstanding” release is drawn from Bannockburn’s entire spectrum of vineyards (planted in 1976, 1997 and 2007), including fruit from the iconic, close-planted blocks. All the sites have volcanic loam and dark clay over a limestone base and are planted to various clones, mainly MV6 with a smattering of the Dijon (or Bernard) clones 114, 115 and 777. Hand-picked fruit from each block fermented separately. Twenty per cent whole bunches and a small portion of carbonic was used. The wine was then pressed to a combination of hogsheads and puncheons (20% new) for a ten-month élevage before blending.

Bannockburn Chardonnay 2022

There can’t be many Victorian Chardonnays with a track record as impressive as Bannockburn’s. The quality and style on offer can be traced back to the estate’s exceptional, organically farmed sites, the Olive Tree Hill Vineyard (planted in 1976 and abutting the S.R.H parcel) and Winery Block (1981), both on volcanic soils over limestone clays with an average vine age of around 35 years. Recently, the Estate Chardonnay has also included fruit from the Kelly Lane Vineyard (Clone 76), and this release also includes a small component from Stuart’s Block. Whole-bunch pressed and settled overnight, the juice was then wild-fermented in a mixture of 500-litre French oak hogsheads and puncheons (20% new), with 70% undergoing malolactic. The wine spent 10 months on lees with no stirring.