Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"The nose starts with typical Felton Road cues: dark roses and violets, ethereal, dancing and transparent. On the palate the first note is savoury: lovely fruits are there, but not even a ghost of New World sweetness. The tannins are firm enough to denote seriousness, but without harshness. Attractive and subtle herbal tones also play a part adding freshness and intrigue. A classic rendition from our four Bannockburn vineyards.
The unique gravity flow winery enabled the grapes to be gently destemmed directly into open-top fermenters without pumping, retaining 20% as whole clusters. Traditional fermentation with a moderately long maceration on skins has extracted good colour and tannin with considerable depth of flavour. This wine was aged for 13 months in 25% new French oak barrels from artisan Burgundian coopers. In accordance with our non-interventionalist approach to winemaking, this wine was fermented with indigenous yeast and malolactic, and was not fined or filtered."
Reviews for previous vintages below…
5 Stars & 97/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (2022 Vintage)
"Deliciously fragrant and intense floral aroma that follows on to the palate where it is joined by cassis, dark cherry, black Doris plum, vanilla, savoury dried herbs and mixed spice and anise flavours. This could is the best Bannockburn pinot noir that I can recall tasting. It has an ethereal texture and a backbone of fine tannins. Absolutely delicious wine!"
5 Stars Michael Cooper (2022 Vintage)
"The Bannockburn winery's 'standard' Pinot Noir is a distinguished wine, blended from its four sites in the district. Matured in French oak casks (25 per cent new in 2022), it is fermented with indigenous yeasts and bottled without fining or filtering. Barrel-aged for 13 months, the 2022 vintage (5*) is a very ageworthy red, deeply coloured, full-bodied and rich. It has concentrated, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, finely integrated oak, and a savoury, very harmonious, lengthy finish. Best drinking 2026+."
Rated Outstanding & 95/100 Cameron Douglas MS, October 2022 (2021 Vintage)
"Purity and finesse, core varietal scents of dark cherry, violet and gun-flint, there’s a quiet smokiness from the barrel along with a five spice quality then a distinctive mineral and earth quality adding complexity and sense of place. A light dried herb and savoury quality reflect the rugged background these vineyards sites are exposed to. Perfect on the palate with a new youthful mouthfeel with textures from tannins and fruit, a fine savoury mineral quality and youthful energy. Chalky tannins and acidity .set the framework for fruit and barrel flavours. There’s a completeness about this wine with a heart of pinosity and charm. Excellent drinking early if you must, but wll also age and be equally delicious from 2025 through 2035."
94+/100 Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, August 2022 (2021 Vintage)
"Bright, raspberry, spiced strawberry and cherry, but all the red fruits here, a little savoury umami/mushroom thing, and a rosy perfume. Medium-bodied, soft but correct acidity, and a whole lot of charm here, a light fine chew to tannin adds to it all, and the finish is good and long. It’s a pretty wine, and so lovely to drink. I reckon it will show even better in a year or two."