2023 Bannockburn Shiraz

95 POINTS

Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion

Made with approximately 10% whole bunch, including a portion of carbonic maceration, and matured in French hogsheads and puncheons (10% new). A medium, bright crimson ruby. More savoury, in a good way, than the '22. Aromas of dark cherry, hung meat, a little freshly churned earth and potpourri precede the palate, which is elegantly wrought, balanced and very persistent. A delicious and very well put together wine to drink now and over the next five to seven years, if not longer.

95 POINTS

James Suckling

Vibrant and lifted aromas of black and red fruits, with an earthy undertone carrying notes of herbs, cracked pepper, olives and charcuterie. The palate is medium-bodied, with finely tuned tannins and a plush, textural mouthfeel. From a cool vintage, this has plenty of lift and freshness, with a savory backbone.

95 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

Admittedly I have a preference for this style of shiraz but this 2023 is a ripper release. It’s peppery. It shows its whole bunch influences in its twiggy herb and nut-like inflections, and in its stringy tannin, and perhaos in its smoky notes too. But the fruit still feels pure and red/black cherried, and those aforementioned black pepper notes ping both energetically, and deliciously, throughout. This year’s Bannockburn Shiraz has a bit of extra spark. It has excellent length, polish, fruit, mouthfeel and all those things. But it exudes that extra something, that star quality.

90 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Vinous

The 2023 Shiraz is a more delicate expression thanks to the vintage. It takes a little time to open up, eventually offering complex layers of red cherry and dark earthy tones with a Szechuan pepper lift. The palate is acid driven and light in weight, with sinewy tannins and balanced spicy red cherry flavors. This wine shows promise but needs at least a couple of years to flesh out.

Jeremy Oliver

Very perfumed, floral, spicy and also herbal, with deep aromas of dark cherries, blood plums and redcurrants backed by suggestions of smoky cedary oak, cola and snap pea. It's medium in weight, with some pleasing forward juiciness and flesh, as vibrant black and red fruits extend with attractive length down a crunchy but gentle spine towards a faintly herbal finish with faintly hard and green-edged acids.