Bannockburn De La Terre Pinot Noir 2013

Bannockburn De La Terre Pinot Noir is a close-planted single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the Moorabool Valley.

Ten thousand vines to the hectare is still uncommon in Australia, and on this sloping block, planted in 2007, it pushes natural yields down to Burgundy Grand Cru levels of around 500 grams a vine. The Serré plateau sits directly above, yet the two wines diverge sharply: clones 777 and 114, the fall of the slope and north-south rows all pull this one inkier, wilder and spicier. James Halliday’s line about a young DRC, written for the 2012, still gets quoted. The 2013 went in as whole bunches, spent a year in Tronçais hogsheads with a third new, then six months in older barriques.

Aromatics come first — sappy red cherry, dried herbs, a lick of stem — then a palate that is fine-boned and long, with tannin like gravel. Serve at 14 to 16 degrees in a big glass. Duck, quail or a mushroom risotto.

*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.