Matt Holmes has been tweaking the Sauvignon Blanc for the last few years to capture more freshness and site expression. Beginning in 2021, the winemaking was pared back, allowing the old vines and limestone soils to take centre stage. Tweaks aside, this remains one of Australia’s most compelling examples of the variety. The fruit hails from two small, organic-certified parcels of vines planted in 1996 at the property’s eastern edge on a block adjacent to the Serré Pinot Noir vines.
The fruit was pressed as bunches and settled overnight before being racked to tank for fermentation. The wine was then racked to stainless-steel tanks for a short maturation (three months) on lees before bottling. They say a change is as good as a rest, and Bannockburn’s fresh take on Sauvignon Blanc proves as much. The 2024 is one of the most appealing yet, full-flavoured with tension, texture and layers of complexity as well as brisk freshness and linear, crisp drive. It's a class act.