The Wine Advocate (robertparker.com) new report on Victoria

Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate recently published a report on Victoria, of which we featured well. A great insight from Erin Larkin into the current releases of the best producers of the state as well as some younger and newer producers making great impressions with lovely wines.

'Other congratulatory mentions go to the Bannockburn wines from Geelong, which performed just as expected—detailed and beguiling, classy to the very end.'

Thanks Erin for including us and for the recent notes, beautifully expressed as always.
All notes by Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, robertparker.com.

SRH 2023
96 points. The 2023 SRH Chardonnay is textural and taut; it is bound in phenolics at this point, but clearly superb. The length of flavor shows this. The complexity shows this. It's a hugely impressive wine that speaks of white peach, green apples, green olive brine, white strawberries and white pepper. It's salty and a little chewy. This will be a seriously great wine—give it time. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Serré 2023
95 points. The 2023 Serré Pinot Noir is a little reductive upon opening, but it dissipates with some swirling and time. The bouquet offers us cherry and pink peppercorn, asphalt and a hint of iodine. On the palate, the wine is svelte and spicy, with a fine shaping of ductile tannin that builds. It is chalky, fresh, detailed and so good. This comes recommended. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Chardonnay 2023
94 points. The 2023 Geelong Chardonnay is light, fine and floral—aromatically and in the mouth. The wine is fresh and laden with elderflower, feijoa (pineapple guava), kiwi fruit and green apples. The texture is glossy and polished, making this a remarkable release of this wine. Sophisticated, in a word. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Sauvignon Blanc 2023
94 points. The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Geelong is both tropical and lean, textural and composed. It speaks of wet wool and tatami mat, scratched lemon and verbena, citrus oil and attractive phenolic width in the mouth. This is a really classy wine. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Gamay 2023
93 points. The 2023 Gamay leads with a reductive opening, with curry leaf and wet steel, fresh paper and linen—like a box of freshly laundered handkerchiefs. In the mouth, the wine is dusty and herbal, with red apple and pear, tobacco and clay, brick dust and cranberry. It has energy and zip, width and texture, and I just can't shake—nor do I want to—the fresh linen quality. This is a lovely, distinct wine. It comes recommended. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Sauvignon Blanc 2024
93 points. 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 I like it. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Shiraz 2022
92 points. The 2022 Shiraz Geelong leads with distinctive game and cocoa, meat crust and peppercorns. In the mouth, the wine is silky and fine and so reminiscent of the bouquet. The finish is laden with cocoa powder and dried mint, clove and tarragon. Lovely wine, it is precisely distinctive of Bannockburn. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Riesling 2024
92 points. 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.

Pinot Noir 2023
92 points. The 2023 Pinot Noir Geelong leads with cocoa and roasted meats, cherry, licorice, autumn leaves and red apples. The wine in the mouth feels pert—gently tart—courtesy of the acidity, with layers of sweet balsamic, dried herbs and tapenade. This is a convincing wine in a securely deployed style. It is impressive and of place. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.