The earliest planting in 1974 was Shiraz vines and the characterful and unique expression of this variety has been integral to the development of Bannockburn Vineyards. The long and slow ripening period for this variety gives us complex and savoury characters in the cool climate spectrum. Viticulture Bannockburn Shiraz is made from a blend of estate fruit grown on our established vineyards; the oldest vines planted in 1974 through to the more recent 2007 planting. This release includes fruit grown across Range (1974), Winery Block (1990, 1996) & De La Roche (2007) vineyards. The clonal mix includes PT23, R6WV28 and ‘Best’s Old Block’ with various vine spacings and planting densities. Winemaking Handpicked parcels of fruit were wild fermented separately with approximately 10% whole bunch overall including a portion of carbonic maceration. After pressing the wine was racked to a combination of hogsheads and puncheons of which 10% was new oak. The wine was left undisturbed for 10 months, then racked to 1200l old oak vats for another 6 months maturation prior to blending and bottling. Tasting Note An expressive nose of clove, black pepper and blueberry fruit is layered with gravel, dried herbs and fine oak. The aromatics are vibrant and complex, showing both power and restraint. The palate is succulent and poised, with red and blue fruits at the core, framed by cool-climate spice and savoury detail. Pepper and dried herbs carry through, black olives linger, underpinned by a fine gravelly texture and long, elegant tannins. This is a polished and serious expression of Shiraz—elegant, focused, and true to its site. A wine of quiet power and finesse that will reward time in bottle but offers a lot of pleasure now. Reviews 95 points. Admittedly I have a preference for this style of shiraz but this 2023 is a ripper release. It’s peppery. It shows its whole bunch influences in its twiggy herb and nut-like inflections, and in its stringy tannin, and perhaps in its smoky notes too. But the fruit still feels pure and red/black cherried, and those aforementioned black pepper notes ping both energetically, and deliciously, throughout. This year’s Bannockburn Shiraz has a bit of extra spark. It has excellent length, polish, fruit, mouthfeel and all those things. But it exudes that extra something, that star quality. Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au.
