Bannockburn Vineyards was established by the late Stuart Hooper in 1974; his vision was to create a vineyard which would produce Australian wine of a quality to emulate the great wines of France, in particular top-line Burgundies. Bannockburn is consistently rated amongst Australia's finest Chardonnay makers, and their 1314 Chardonnay has been a welcome recent addition to the line-up.
A cracking follow up to the hugely popular '21 vintage, the 2022 Bannockburn 1314 Chardonnay is sourced from across Bannockburn’s organically farmed estate vineyards. The fruit was whole-bunch pressed and settled overnight. Fermented wild, the wine rested on lees with no stirring for eight months, before blending and bottling. The 2022 saw 20% new oak which is faultlessly integrated.
It opens with beautiful ripe fruits, white florals and mineral accents framed by a nip of reduction. A touch more athletic than last year, it’s a finely drawn and focused release with impressive flavour intensity, nose-to-tail energy and some lovely phenolic grip. The lengthy finish is rounded out by a refreshing orange-skin bitterness and moreish citrus tang. Just a fantastic, unpretentious Chardonnay; great now, it will only improve in the bottle.
