Winery Block Chardonnay 2024

Winery Block was planted in 1981 to P58 Chardonnay and remains our largest single vineyard site. While it typically ripens early, picking is spaced over many days to reflect variation across the 5.3-acre block. This single vineyard selection is made each year based on the vintage conditions. Soils range from dark brown clay to sandier topsoil, over weathered basalt and limestone.

Handpicked parcels of fruit were whole bunch pressed, settled overnight, and racked to barrels for a wild yeast fermentation in French oak hogsheads; approximately 40% was new oak. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally on 100% of the blend and completed in spring. The wine was left on lees, unstirred, for 10 months prior to blending and bottling.

Very classic to Bannockburn. Bright acid and lovely balance, mostly sourced from the first pick in this warmer year. There’s purity and clarity to the fruit, with notes of white peach, citrus, and a touch of struck match, all wrapped in fine texture and line. A harmonious expression of the Chardonnay clone P58 that speaks clearly of place, with great flavour, balance and persistence.

96 points. The premier release of this wine, from vines planted in 1981 to clone P58. Aromas of lemon confit, struck matches, grilled citrus, grapefruit, salted nuts, sea spray and white flowers. The palate is textural, with a fine line of acidity and layers of complex, densely packed fruit around a mineral core. Great tension and purity, with a fine backbone for aging. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap. Ryan Montgomery, jamessuckling.com.

95 points. This is stellar. It’s a wine of both power and length and with a bit of extra character as well. Apples, peaches, slips of pear skin and nuts, perhaps some stonefruit pips as well, or certainly something that seems both fruity and woody at once. It’s not reticent or restrained but nor is it exaggerated; it’s alive with flavour, fit and firing you could say, ripped with muscle and energy. Touch and go for 96. In any case it’s superb. Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au.