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Bannockburn 2025 Estate Release

Stellar Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Gamay from a Geelong Icon
Bannockburn 2025 Estate Release

“The late Stuart Hooper had a deep love for the wines of Burgundy, and was able to drink the best. When he established Bannockburn, it was inevitable that pinot noir and chardonnay would form the major part of the plantings... Bannockburn is still owned by members of the Hooper family, who continue to respect Stuart’s strong belief in making wines that reflect the flavours of the certified-organic vineyard.” ★★★★★ Halliday Wine Companion

 

The message from Bannockburn over the last year has effectively been “believe the hype” in reference to what will surely become a legendary vintage, and we’re inclined to agree. The annual release of the Estate level wines from one of Australia’s most iconic producers is always a major event, but the 2025 vintage feels especially compelling. This release reflects a team operating at the very top of its game, delivering wines of exceptional quality across the board. After an extended period of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir being out of stock and anticipation at a peak, this is very much a case of don’t walk, run! 

 

Please note, the wines will be officially released on Monday the 1st of June.

The Wines

Bannockburn Chardonnay 2025

Bannockburn Chardonnay 2025

Sourced from Bannockburn estate vineyards spanning plantings from 1976 to 2016, this Chardonnay draws on diverse sites including Olive Tree Hill, Winery Block, Stuart Block, Grigsby and Kelly Lane, with clonal material P58, Bernard 76, 95 and 96. Handpicked fruit was whole bunch pressed, wild fermented in French hogsheads and puncheons (25% new oak), with 70% malolactic fermentation and 10 months’ lees maturation without stirring. The 2025 vintage—Bannockburn’s earliest harvest on record—was defined by a warm, dry season and a compressed harvest, delivering wines of generosity, clarity and precision. The palate shows ripe stone fruit, grapefruit and pear, carried by bright acidity to a long, composed finish of tension and purity.

"There are yellow stone fruits characters here, and an array of sweet spice notes, but it’s the flesh, the rush and the juice of grapefruit and ripe pear flavours that both dominate and seduce. This wine really does make you dive quickly in for more. There’s a subtle smokiness, some tonic and mineral-like notes, and an especially noticeable (extra) linger to the finish. This is one of those wines where the acidity itself feels flushed with flavour. The aftertaste then adds some pebble-stone characters, just because it can. What a wine."
96 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Bannockburn Chardonnay 2025
Bannockburn Chardonnay 2025 (1500ml)

Bannockburn Chardonnay 2025 (1500ml)

Sourced from Bannockburn estate vineyards spanning plantings from 1976 to 2016, this Chardonnay draws on diverse sites including Olive Tree Hill, Winery Block, Stuart Block, Grigsby and Kelly Lane, with clonal material P58, Bernard 76, 95 and 96. Handpicked fruit was whole bunch pressed, wild fermented in French hogsheads and puncheons (25% new oak), with 70% malolactic fermentation and 10 months’ lees maturation without stirring. The 2025 vintage—Bannockburn’s earliest harvest on record—was defined by a warm, dry season and a compressed harvest, delivering wines of generosity, clarity and precision. The palate shows ripe stone fruit, grapefruit and pear, carried by bright acidity to a long, composed finish of tension and purity.

"There are yellow stone fruits characters here, and an array of sweet spice notes, but it’s the flesh, the rush and the juice of grapefruit and ripe pear flavours that both dominate and seduce. This wine really does make you dive quickly in for more. There’s a subtle smokiness, some tonic and mineral-like notes, and an especially noticeable (extra) linger to the finish. This is one of those wines where the acidity itself feels flushed with flavour. The aftertaste then adds some pebble-stone characters, just because it can. What a wine."
96 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Bannockburn Chardonnay 2025 (1500ml)
Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2025

Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2025

Sourced from estate vineyards planted between 1976 and 2007—including Olive Tree Hill, 10 Rows, Stuart Block, Ann’s Block and De La Terre—this Pinot Noir draws on clonal material MV6, 114, 115 and 777 across varied site expressions. Handpicked parcels were wild fermented separately with ~20% whole bunch inclusion, then matured in French hogsheads and puncheons (25% new oak) for 10 months on lees prior to blending. The 2025 vintage—Bannockburn’s earliest harvest on record—delivered wines of generosity, clarity and fine structural precision. This release shows red and dark cherry fruit layered with earthy, savoury depth underpinned by fine-grained tannins and a long drive that speaks clearly of site and season.

“The first word that came to mind was unsweet. I’m not even sure that’s a word. This is a particularly earthen Pinot Noir with root vegetable characters running through black cherry, chicory, woodsmoke and fistfuls of roasted spices. I’m tempted to call this Pinot Noir for grown-ups but that’s a silly phrase so I’ll refrain. We get beautiful, fine-meshed, grapey tannin here, and sinewy characters, and a genuine, savoury push of flavour through the finish. I’m as certain as I can be that this wine will mature well.”
95 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2025
Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2025 (1500ml)

Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2025 (1500ml)

Sourced from estate vineyards planted between 1976 and 2007—including Olive Tree Hill, 10 Rows, Stuart Block, Ann’s Block and De La Terre—this Pinot Noir draws on clonal material MV6, 114, 115 and 777 across varied site expressions. Handpicked parcels were wild fermented separately with ~20% whole bunch inclusion, then matured in French hogsheads and puncheons (25% new oak) for 10 months on lees prior to blending. The 2025 vintage—Bannockburn’s earliest harvest on record—delivered wines of generosity, clarity and fine structural precision. This release shows red and dark cherry fruit layered with earthy, savoury depth underpinned by fine-grained tannins and a long drive that speaks clearly of site and season.


“The first word that came to mind was unsweet. I’m not even sure that’s a word. This is a particularly earthen Pinot Noir with root vegetable characters running through black cherry, chicory, woodsmoke and fistfuls of roasted spices. I’m tempted to call this Pinot Noir for grown-ups but that’s a silly phrase so I’ll refrain. We get beautiful, fine-meshed, grapey tannin here, and sinewy characters, and a genuine, savoury push of flavour through the finish. I’m as certain as I can be that this wine will mature well.”
95 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2025 (1500ml)
Bannockburn Gamay 2025

Bannockburn Gamay 2025

Sourced from a 1.4-acre Olive Tree Hill block planted in 2014 and grafted to Gamay in 2019, grown on north-facing clay over limestone soils. Fruit was handpicked and fermented with 100% whole bunch carbonic maceration in small bins, then pressed to old oak (1,300L) and matured for 10 months prior to bottling.

The 2025 season produced naturally ripe, concentrated fruit with even ripening and excellent definition. Bright red fruits are lifted by spice and subtle herbal detail, with fine tannins and a supple, vibrant flow that balances purity with savoury complexity.

“Bannockburn makes such good gamay. It’s grown on a 1.4 acre block planted in 2014. Absolutely pitch perfect. I mean, come on. It’s so bright and yet, at the same time, so well fruited; it has freshness and substance and luminance in equal and harmonious measure. Cherry-berry flavours, some blueberry, some blood orange and ferrous notes, and intricate stitchings of spice. Trace elements of herbs and smoked, roasted meats. A bit of gloss but a liveliness at the same time. Everything here is exactly the ticket.”
94 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Bannockburn Gamay 2025

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