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Bannockburn Spring Releases

A Spring in Their Step: Riesling, Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc
Bannockburn Spring Releases
Where there is smoke, there is fire. It’s not just the quality of Bannockburn’s Chardonnay and Pinot that has transformed over the years. “When you get out of the way and allow it to speak through the soils, Riesling is a great conduit for expression of place,” says Gus Pollard, the grandson of founder Stuart Hooper, who knows great Riesling when he sees it. “Over the last few years, our Riesling has developed an identity—characteristics that are identifiable year on year regardless of the conditions of the season.” To be specific, you can expect more fruit texture and tension than you might get from more classic Australian Riesling regions, as well as enticing savoury salinity from the old vines (1976!) and limestone soils.

Considering its price tag, Bannockburn’s 1314 Rosé delivers a whole lot of wine in the glass. Dominated by Cabernet―with Merlot, Shiraz and a dash of Riesling adding freshness―its savoury depth, appealing bitter notes, and bright, fresh berry flavour will have you reaching for a second glass. Finally, there’s Sauvignon Blanc, the wine that has seen perhaps the most significant stylistic change. Since 2021, Holmes and team have melded this wine’s old-vine concentration to a fresher, more textural and minimalist style than that of old.

Expect value-packed wines that fuse delicious, vibrant appeal with the kind of savoury, textural sophistication found in all this iconic grower’s wines.

The Wines

Bannockburn 1314 Rosé 2024

Bannockburn 1314 Rosé 2024

Now in its third year, the 1314 Rosé is already a mainstay of Bannockburn’s range; Matt Holmes is putting the estate’s old-vine Cabernet and Merlot vines to good use. This year, Cabernet makes up 40% of the blend, with the balance comprising equal parts Merlot, Shiraz and Riesling. In the warm, dry conditions of 2024, Bannockburn’s well-established, low-yielding Riesling vines contribute refreshing drive to the full, fleshy berry-fruit profile.

All the fruit hails from the Winery Block, with vines planted in 1981, 1990 and 1996. The soils are clay over limestone, and the vineyard is farmed organically. The Cabernet component underwent carbonic maceration to soften up the skins before being gently pressed to tank for fermentation. The other varieties were simply pressed as bunches to tank for fermentation. Maturation was short―about three months―and took place in a combination of tanks and old barrels. It's juicy, full and fleshy, bursting with sweet summer berries and cassis underpinned by a distinctive savoury tone and a lick of wet stone on the fresh finish. With plenty of weight and flavour, this will pair well with a variety of dishes, including anything with spice.

“Dust and leaf notes ripple through blackcurrant bud, citrus, jubey raspberry and sweet spice. It’s a dry rosé with lots of spice and leaf notes but with a good core of juicy fruit too. Colour-wise it sits just on the pale or orange side of crimson; it’s a fair indicator of the dry-but-flavoursome-style of the wine. There’s a meaty/bunchy/Campari-esque side to this; it’s not dominant but it’s there.This would be great with food.”
93 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
“A blend of estate cabernet sauvignon/merlot/riesling/shiraz. An iridescent salmon pink. Leaps out of the glass with its aromas of ripe red apples, blood oranges and mountain herbs. Flavoursome, gently textured and refreshing and a good accompaniment to a barbecued lamb cutlet and salads this summer.”
91 points, Philip Rich, The Wine Companion
“The nose is vibrant and fresh, giving fruit-driven notes of nectarines, peaches and watermelon rind. The palate is is light-bodied with focused acidity, showing fresh herbs, red apple skin and chalk. Stylish and friendly. Made from a blend of 40% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 20% riesling and 20% shiraz. Drink now. Screw cap.”
92 points, jamessuckling.com
Bannockburn 1314 Rosé 2024
Bannockburn Riesling 2024

Bannockburn Riesling 2024

Bannockburn’s Riesling is really hitting its stride. Riesling was one of the first varieties to be planted in Bannockburn’s original Olive Tree Hill vineyard in 1976. Today, most of the fruit still comes from this one acre of original, own-rooted, now quite low-yielding block that sits at the top of the north-facing slope on the property. A small portion (0.6 acres) of 2015 plantings is also in the mix. We don’t need to tell you about Riesling’s knack for expressing place, and Bannockburn’s deep-rooted old vines do a stellar job of soaking up every ounce of expression from these ancient limestone rocks.

The fruit was picked in excellent condition―when flavours were ripe and natural acidity still high―and pressed as bunches to steel tank for fermentation. The wine then matured on lees for three months before being bottled. As with the last couple of vintages, there were no additions other than a touch of sulphur. It's a wonderfully fragrant release, with citrus and white florals leading to fresh, crisp flavours and a mouthwatering chalky finish. 

“As far as I know this doesn’t see oak but it still feels noticeably textural. It’s cut with citrussy flavours but the main characters here are steel and tonic. It’s dry, almost gravelly, almost stony, with a herbs-dipped-in-woodsmoke-and-brine side. This too would be fabulous to dine with.”
93+ points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
“Made mainly from 0.4ha of vines planted in 1976. A pure and quite lovely nose featuring scents of Meyer lemon, makrut lime leaves and floral notes. The palate is linear, chalky and long with the fruit and acidity in perfect harmony. I'm thinking san choy bow would be a great match. I'm guessing it'll age superbly, too.” 96 points, Philip Rich, The Wine Companion
96 points, Philip Rich, The Wine Companion
“Lifted, fresh and floral notes of lemon sherbet, orange blossoms and candied lime zest. The palate is light-bodied with piercing acidity and a generous mouthfeel that will open up in time, giving notes of flint, crushed river stones and grapefruit. Very tightly bound. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
93 points, jamessuckling.com
“The 2024 vintage marks the 50th anniversary for Bannockburn—a moment for the estate. On the nose, this 2024 Riesling has pronounced grass aromas, with green apple, chalk and wet stones. In the mouth, it is tightly coiled and quite powerful; one would struggle to use words like “delicate” to describe it. This really gives impact and shape to the experience. This is a good wine. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.”
92 points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
Bannockburn Riesling 2024
Bannockburn Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Bannockburn Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Matt Holmes has been tweaking the Sauvignon Blanc for the last few years to capture more freshness and site expression. Beginning in 2021, the winemaking was pared back, allowing the old vines and limestone soils to take centre stage. Tweaks aside, this remains one of Australia’s most compelling examples of the variety. The fruit hails from two small, organic-certified parcels of vines planted in 1996 at the property’s eastern edge on a block adjacent to the Serré Pinot Noir vines.

The fruit was pressed as bunches and settled overnight before being racked to tank for fermentation. The wine was then racked to stainless-steel tanks for a short maturation (three months) on lees before bottling. They say a change is as good as a rest, and Bannockburn’s fresh take on Sauvignon Blanc proves as much. The 2024 is one of the most appealing yet, full-flavoured with tension, texture and layers of complexity as well as brisk freshness and linear, crisp drive. It's a class act.

“Fantastic wine. It’s a bloom of complex flavour. Salted gooseberries, smoked apples, earth, clay, dry spice and hay, with dry grass and herb notes spreading through the aftertaste. No hesitation, this is a ripper.”
95 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
“Made from two parcels planted in 1996 and certified organic in 2021. A very bright green gold. The polar opposite (in a good way) to much Australian and NZ sauvignon blanc. Subtle aromas of white pear, just-ripened red apples, gooseberry and elderflower precede the palate, which has texture and depth not to mention a fine acid line running throughout.”
96 points, Philip Rich, The Wine Companion
“Aromas of passion fruit, fresh pineapple and and flint on the nose. The palate is light- to medium-bodied and textural with vibrant acidity, giving notes of lemon sherbet, Fuji apples and blueberry bush. Very focused and sophisticated with a minerally finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
95 points, jamessuckling.com
“The 2024 vintage marks the 50th anniversary for Bannockburn—a moment for the estate. The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Geelong riffs off the same playbook as the Riesling tasted beside it—it is powerful and grassy and has tremendous textural width on the palate, with beeswax, scratched citrus, pressed linen and tatami mat/straw. This is an intriguing wine. I like it. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.”
93 points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
Bannockburn Sauvignon Blanc 2024

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