Bannockburn Chardonnay 2023

Bannockburn Chardonnay is the estate's Geelong Chardonnay, with close-planted Grigsby fruit in the blend this year.

Close planting is a deliberate cruelty: vines at high density compete for water and nutrients, crop very little, and concentrate what they do make. Grigsby is the estate's close-planted Chardonnay block and usually goes out on its own, but tiny yields in 2023 brought its fruit into the estate blend instead. It joins Olive Tree Hill from 1976 next to the S.R.H. parcel, the Winery Block from 1981, Stuart Block from 1997 and Kelly Lane from 2016, all organically farmed on volcanic soils over limestone clays. Whole-bunch pressed, wild-fermented in French hogsheads and puncheons with a fifth new, seventy per cent through malolactic, ten months unstirred on lees.

Vivid and substantive, saturated in flavour with crystalline cut, fleshy richness and enormous length. A serious wine by any measure. Serve at 11 to 12 degrees in a large glass and give it time. It will handle roast pork, lobster, or a rich chicken and mushroom pie.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.