Shiraz 2022

Bannockburn Shiraz is made from a blend of estate fruit grown on our established vineyards; the oldest vines planted in 1974 through to the more recent 2007 planting. This release includes fruit grown across Range (1974), Winery Block (1990, 1996) & De La Roche (2007) vineyards. The clonal mix includes PT23, R6WV28 and ‘Best’s Old Block’ with various vine spacings and planting densities.

Handpicked parcels of fruit were wild fermented separately with approximately 10% whole bunch overall including a portion of carbonic maceration. After pressing the wine was racked to a combination of hogsheads and puncheons of which 10% was new oak. The wine was left undisturbed for 10 months, then racked to 1200l old oak vats for another 6 months maturation prior to blending and bottling.

The 2022 Shiraz offers aromas of blueberry, violets, white pepper, and autumnal savoury characters, which are very typical of this variety from our site. The palate is elegant, cool, and long, with flavours of red and blue fruits, olives, cured meats and some smoky charred wood characters. The finish is savoury, spicy and twiggy, with pleasing acidity and freshness for such a flavourful wine.

95 points. Lifted aromas of blueberry, Campari, clovey oak, bramble, dried flowers and a bunchy edge. Mid-weight, bright and crunchy on the palate: there’s lovely lift and brightness here. Lashings of blue fruits, Asian spice, sarsaparilla and snappy acidity. Long and textured—a delicious example of cooler climate shiraz. Aaron Brasher, realreview.com.

95 points. Savory and earth-driven. with notes of Damson plums, graphite, blackcurrants and spices. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with focused acidity and finely integrated tannins, giving notes of wild blackberries, wet earth, cured meat and dried herbs. Wonderfully balanced and giving. Drink or hold. Screw cap. Ryan Montgomery, jamessuckling.com.

94 points. There’s depth to this release but there’s also finesse. It’s toasty and meaty and truffle-like, but there’s deep, black-cherried fruit here too, and stem/mescal notes, and a cedarwood oak-derived influence. Those toasty, truffle-like characters are front and centre though, and they continue even as the wine hones to a fine-grained finish. There’s enough tightness here to suggest that it will mature well, though even at this early stage it drinks well, and in a complex way. Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au.