Declassified 2011 Bannockburn Estate Pinot Noir!
This is a new, and altogether different, wine from the original release of Bannockburn's 1314 A.D. from the 2011 vintage. The latter wine was made from a declassified portion of the Bannockburn vineyard -Anne's Block, established in 2002, to be precise. This wine is actually what would, had it been released, have been Bannockburn's 2011 Estate Pinot Noir (gulp!) (and is differentiated by the 'Reclassified Vintage' wording on the label). Winemaker Micheal Glover explains:
"The [2011 Pinot Noir] wines across the range show great varietal fruit character along with freshness lift and charm. I regard the wines as being far more classically varietal and also more restrained than the typical Bannockburn power, texture and 'attitude'. It was initially intended that this wine would be labelled 2011 Bannockburn Pinot Noir but after much anguish, deliberation and assessment of the market it has been decided to declassify it to the 1314 a.d. label..."
So, this wine has been made from fruit hand harvested from Bannockburn's own dry grown vineyards including, Olive Tree Hill, Stuart, Serre and De La Terre. Approximately one third of this wine is made from Bannockburn's close planted vineyards, Serre and De La Terre (which are cropped at only 600 g / vine in 2011). Well over half of this wine is made from vines that are over thirty years of age, grown at our Olive Tree Hill vineyard. Due to the cooler conditions experienced in 2011 this wine was made with only 40% whole bunches and spent 3 weeks on skins before being transferred to one-third new barriques for 12 - 18 months maturation. Only 200 dozen bottles were produced.
As those familiar with Bannockburn and Michael Glover will instinctively know, delicious as the wines under the 1314 a.d label have been thus far, this bottling is on a different, much higher level. It's bona-fide Estate quality Bannockburn at half the price
Bibendum Wine Co.
Country:
Australia
Region:
VIC- Geelong
Variety:
Wine Red - Pinot noir
Size:
750mL
