"This is good gear" - Campbell Mattinson
Bannockburn's Douglas is a red wine blend designed to reflect the unique philosophy of Bannockburn and the unique conditions that prevailed throughout the vintage; the 2017 vintage is a result of a cracking vintage for the Geelong region.
The 2017 Bannockburn Douglas is made up 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Shiraz and 7% Merlot, to deliver an immediately approachable blend with plenty of appeal. Blackcurrant fruit sits alongside aromas of tomato leaf, mountain herbs and Asian spices. Soft and medium-bodied, this is delicious and sweetly fruited red wine with the kind of drink-now balance and suppleness crying out for something from the grill.
"Bannockburn’s Douglas red blend is always an interesting wine. This release from 2017 is a blend of shiraz (11%), cabernet sauvignon (82%), and merlot (7%), which is a significant departure from the previous release, which was both shiraz-dominant and included pinot noir. It’s such an interesting wine. If you’d told me that there was pinot noir involved I wouldn’t have blinked. It has that light liveliness. It’s sappy and spicy, meaty and nutty, with sweet-sour cherry along with general sweet berry aromas/flavours. The energy is high here. There’s a huge amount going on. It feels cool and fragrant; it’s built on acidity; it lingers; it includes a herbal dustiness but it’s in the context of juicy, lively, light-styled fruit. It still feels very young, as a four-year-old. This is good gear. 92 Points NOv21 13.7% alc. $35 Screwcap Drink: 2021 - 2027" - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front.