2025 Bannockburn S.R.H. Chardonnay

Bannockburn Vineyards was founded in 1974 by Stuart Hooper, who envisioned producing Australian wines to rival the world’s best. Situated in the Moorabool Valley near Geelong, the estate spans 26 vineyard blocks across diverse soils of volcanic debris, ancient seabeds, and limestone. Now among the oldest plantings in the region, Bannockburn is celebrated for its close-planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other varieties, grown with organic principles and crafted with minimal intervention to reflect purity of site. Remaining family-owned, the estate continues to balance heritage, sustainability, and innovation, producing wines of depth, character, and enduring quality.

The S.R.H. Chardonnay is sourced from a distinctive 12-row, 2.46-acre parcel at Bannockburn’s Olive Tree Hill vineyard, planted in 1976 to the P58 clone. These oldest Chardonnay vines sit mid-slope on a north-facing aspect, where complex soils of clay, limestone, and ancient marine sediment, remnants of an old seabed, impart profound character and depth. Hand-picked fruit was whole-bunch pressed, settled overnight, and fermented with wild yeasts in French oak hogsheads, around 30% new. Malolactic fermentation was completed on 70% of the blend, with the balance blocked, before the wine rested on lees, unstirred, for 10 months.

Other Reviews...
From a 12-row block of P58 clone planted in '76. Matured in French hogsheads and puncheons (40% new); 70% mlf. A very bright green gold. Interestingly, this is the most restrained and subtle of Bannockburn's '25 chardonnays, and, no surprise, also the most complex. Aromas of perfectly ripened stone fruits, orange pith and lemongrass precede a tightly wound palate that's really concentrated without being remotely heavy. A superb wine with a magnificent future. Drink 2026-2034.
98+ points
Philip Rich - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion

From 12 rows of chardonnay, planted in 1976. 70% went through malo.
The freshness and the length. The flavour too, of course. This is just plain yum, to be frank. It tastes of pears and peaches, steel and citrus, with cashew, tonic water and cedar notes delivered hand-in glove, and they are light gloves at that. This is fluid flavour delivered at its most fancy. It’s plainly excellent. Drink 2027-2034+.
95 points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

What an exceptional bottling, just waiting to evolve over time. Aromas of grapefruit, sliced lemons, chalk, salted nuts, struck match and wet stones. The palate is tense and nervy, with bright acidity and pithy, compact fruit. Long, mouthwatering finish. A pure, nervy wine with years ahead of it. Made from vines planted in 1976, with 70% malolactic fermentation and 30% new French oak. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
97 points
Ryan Montgomery - JamesSuckling.com