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This Shiraz from Robert Stein displays savoury fruit and nut characters, with spice and chocolate flavours in the mouth. A multi vineyard blend from 35 year old vines, this Shiraz is great for drinking now or cellar for 8-10 years.

Wonderfully floral aromas of violet and rose petal leading to blueberry, plum and dark fruit. Supported by toasty oak and black pepper spice. Rich and mouth-filling, the palate replicates the nose. A well-structured web of tannins provides exceptional texture and length. A wine that will be complimented by decanting and generously reward cellaring.

A bright, fresh and delicate cool climate Pinot Noir. Whole bunches and a wild yeast ferment were used to produce lingering savoury flavours in the wine.

Shiraz - Deep rich cherry red in colour. A robust aroma with very ripe plum/cherry tones and obvious oak leading to a mouth filling palate with long finish. The palate is soft, well balanced with a lingering fruity finish. The wine is ready to drink now or can be cellared for up to 8-10 years.

Bannockburn’s Shiraz is drawn predominately from vines in the south-facing Winery Block (planted in 1990) and some declassified De La Roche (planted in 2007). All sites possess soils of mainly volcanic scoria over basalt, clay and loam with a limestone clay base. The 2020 was a low yielding year and a cooler season than 2019. The fruit was wild fermented with 10% whole bunches and some carbonic maceration. The wine spent two weeks on skins before being pressed, settled and racked to French oak hogsheads (10% new) for 12 months élevage. Alongside a reduction in the use of new barrels, Matt Holmes has gradually been introducing more influence of carbonic in his Shiraz. Holmes feels the mature Winery Block has inherent savoury qualities (due to the clay/limestone, old vines and poor soils) and the carbonic impact helps to lift the impression of brightness and fruit purity.

We are always surprised by the quality of back vintage Cabernet based wines at Bannockburn and this wine is testament to that fact, whilst it has some maturity, the structure is firmly in place, acidity and balance of the wine is well in check and there is underlying cassis and violet typical of Cabernet Sauvignon, along side the plushness of Merlot and the pepper and savoury notes of Shiraz. A great value option, with a few years behind it, that will suit some big glasses, a carafe and the dining table.

Ray Nadeson describes Ménage à Noir Pinot Noir as “Lethbridge-lite”; we prefer to think of it as the opening act to this producer’s impressive suite of Pinot Noirs. It’s a blend of sites, but the lion’s share (88%) comes from Jack and Lois Doeven’s cool site in Drumborg (Henty). This low-yielding vineyard with well-established vines was planted in schist soils in the 1980s. The balance of the fruit comes from Geelong. The destemmed fruit ferments in a 3,000-litre wooden fermenter with regular pumpovers. The wine then matures in a mixture of old and new (approximately 10%) French oak of various sizes (225, 300 and 2,500 litres). This is bright, fresh and vibrant with signature Lethbridge energy and raciness balanced nicely by ripe berry fruits, earthy spice and a crunchy, sappy, lasting finish. A real winner.