Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2005

Bannockburn Vineyards produce three pinot noirs - the flagship Serre, Stuart and this impressive entry-level varietal. Fruit for the 2005 Bannockburn Pinot Noir was sourced from the 30-year-old Olive Hill Vineyard and has 25% whole bunch component. New winemaker Michael Glover joined Bannockburn in 2005 and inherited spectacular vineyards and a renowned label particularly celebrated for its chardonnay and pinot noir. But he was keen to make changes - 'If I was to be hyper-critical, I felt that they lacked a degree of finesse, elegance and restraint. I was hoping to give the wines more line and length.'

"Bannockburn is back in town. I know that the 2004 garnered a fair deal of acclaim, but this is a class above. It's composed, juicy, structured and steady through the mouth. Lovely length. Lovely fragrance. This will be beautiful in seven to ten years."  Campbell Mattinson

Expert reviews

"New winemaker Michael Glover has maintained the classic Bannockburn style, with a trademark foresty bouquet due to stalks in the ferment. Good depth and richness, fruit sweetness and charm. A delicious pinot, and this is only number three in the hierarchy."  Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller Wine - 94 points  ★★★★★

"Bannockburn is back in town. I know that the 2004 garnered a fair deal of acclaim, but this is a class above. It's composed, juicy, structured and steady through the mouth, laced with grapey tannin and gorgeously varietal. It's less sappy than Bannockburn pinot is often want to be, and it's better for it. Lovely length. Lovely fragrance. Integrated oak. This will be beautiful in seven to ten years. Drink: 2013-2019."  Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 94 points

"A fragrant, highly spiced bouquet; has intense flavours, again quite spicy on the very long palate; 25% whole bunch component works very well. A selection of half of the best barrels; from the 30-year-old Olive Hill Vineyard. 13.5º alc. Drink Now – 2015."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 94 points

"Michael Glover's energy, attention to detail and thoughtful winemaking has enabled him to put his own mark on the Bannockburn wines. The production of the three pinots (flagship Serre, Stuart and this impressive entry-level varietal) may vary, however, none is fined and all are filtered. The 2005 Pinot is quite restrained and tight with subtle savoury fragrances, a complex array of briary, mushroomy, forest-floor characters, primal and varietal yet finishing with a gentle grip and persistence."  Peter Forrestal, Gourmet Traveller Wine  ★★★★★

About the winery

Stuart Hooper was a successful businessman with a passion for everything about wine and a deep love for the wines of Burgundy. He envisioned creating a vineyard that would produce Australian wine of a quality to emulate the great regions of France.

In 1974 Stuart selected a plot of land in the Moorabool Valley near the township of Bannockburn and planted 3 hectares of Shiraz. Before long, more land was acquired, more vines and varieties planted and Bannockburn Vineyards is now one of the most highly regarded small winemaking estates in Australia. It was inevitable that pinot noir and chardonnay would form the major part of the plantings, with lesser amounts of riesling, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot.

Stuart has since passed, but Bannockburn Vineyards remains in the Hooper family, with his daughters as custodians to ensure his philosophy is preserved. Matt Holmes succeeded Michael Glover as winemaker in 2015. Lucas Grigsby, Viticultural Manager for over 30 years, takes personal pride tending to the vineyards with a belief in organic farming practices to maintain the health of the soils and vines. In the winery, Matt Holmes believes in minimal additions, wild yeast ferments and low intervention winemaking. The results are wines that are made with integrity and that are distinctively Bannockburn.