Consistently rated as one of Australia’s best Pinot Noir wines; our estate Pinot Noir is always distinctive, complex, and characterful. Old vineyards, limestone soils and low yielding vines offer pure fruit, autumnal aromas, and savoury spice driven characters. Viticulture Bannockburn Pinot Noir is made from a blend of estate fruit grown on our established vineyards; the oldest vines planted in 1976 through to the more recent 2007 planting. This release includes fruit grown across Olive Tree Hill (1976), 10 Rows (1991), Stuart Block (1997), Anns Block (2004) & De La Terre (2007) vineyards. The clonal mix includes MV6, 114, 115 and 777, with various vine spacings and planting densities. Winemaking Handpicked parcels of fruit were wild fermented separately with approximately 20% whole bunch overall including a portion of carbonic maceration. After pressing the wine was racked to a combination of hogsheads and puncheons of which 25% was new oak. The wine was left undisturbed for 10 months prior to blending and bottling. Tasting Note Bright cherry and wild berry fruit sit at the core, framed by subtle notes of cracked spice, dried herbs and a gentle forest-floor savouriness. Rose petal, cedar and a finely judged touch of oak add detail without overt influence. The palate is supple and finely structured, carrying ripe but controlled fruit through a line of bright acidity and fine tannin. Hints of spice and earthy nuance linger through the mid-palate, giving shape and tension to the wine’s elegant profile. Concentrated yet composed, it finishes long, savoury and finely etched. Reviews 95 points. The first word that came to mind was unsweet. I’m not even sure that’s a word. This is a particularly earthen Pinot Noir with root vegetable characters running through black cherry, chicory, woodsmoke and fistfuls of roasted spices. I’m tempted to call this Pinot Noir for grown-ups but that’s a silly phrase so I’ll refrain. We get beautiful, fine-meshed, grapey tannin here, and sinewy characters, and a genuine, savoury push of flavour through the finish. I’m as certain as I can be that this wine will mature well. Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au.
