2025 Bannockburn Chardonnay

Rich, concentrated and texturally enveloping yet energetic and fresh.

Sourced from Bannockburn estate vineyards spanning plantings from 1976 to 2016, this Chardonnay draws on diverse sites including Olive Tree Hill, Winery Block, Stuart Block, Grigsby and Kelly Lane, with clonal material P58, Bernard 76, 95 and 96.
The fruit was pressed as whole bunches and fermented naturally in a mixture of French hogsheads and puncheons (25% new). This year, 70% of the blend went through malolactic fermentation, and the wine spent 10 months maturing on lees with no stirring.
Brilliant pale straw colour with straw green highlighted edges and a watery hue. Nosing offers up a complex aromatic profile of yellow peach, nectarine and honeycomb followed by some bees wax, crème brulee, roasted almond and spice notes. Rich, concentrated and textural, mouth filling flavours of yellow peach, nectarine, honeycomb and crème brulee engulf the palate. Cashew, citrusy nougat and gentle spice elements extend across the back half. Energetic and fresh, it displays excellent power with the long, enveloping finish carrying a creamy feel.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews….
There are yellow stone fruits characters here, and an array of sweet spice notes, but it’s the flesh, the rush and the juice of grapefruit and ripe pear flavours that both dominate and seduce. This wine really does make you dive quickly in for more. There’s a subtle smokiness, some tonic and mineral-like notes, and an especially noticeable (extra) linger to the finish. This is one of those wines where the acidity itself feels flushed with flavour. The aftertaste then adds some pebble-stone characters, just because it can. What a wine. Drink 2026-2034+
96 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front