Shiraz has made a couple of cameos in Bannockburn’s 1314 range over the years, but from 2024, its place becomes permanent. As with the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, vine age plays a significant role in the quality here, especially considering the price. The fruit hails from 1990 and 1996 planted vines on the Winery Block. Picked for freshness at 13.5% potential alcohol, the fruit was destemmed and fermented on skins for seven days before being pressed off to mostly old hogsheads (10% new) for eight months of maturation.
This is a super-impressive release with bright, alluring colour, a vibrantly scented, complex, spice-laden nose and a seriously deep, slinky-textured yet remarkably fresh expression. Perfumed, savoury, crunchy and composed, this is a beauty; one could polish off a bottle quite easily.