Bannockburn 'De La Terre' Pinot Noir 2022

Certified organic. De La Terre is a beautiful sloping vineyard that was planted in 2007 at 10,000 vines per hectare. Still quite rare in an Australian setting, the planting density results in very low natural yields of, typically, 500 grams or less per vine (i.e. Burgundy Grand Cru levels). De La Terre lies beside the Serré vineyard, although it sits on the slope, whereas Serré is on a small plateau directly above. Despite this proximity, the wines are surprisingly different; De La Terre giving an inkier, wilder and spicier expression of Pinot than Serré. Along with the slope, the clonal selection (777), and north-south row orientation (rather than the east-west of Serré) contribute to the difference in character.

Though penned in 2012, James Halliday’s “reminiscent of a young DRC,” remark remains a ringing endorsement for this close-planted site. After its brief hiatus, the 2022 serves as a wonderful reminder of the heights this site can scale. The fruit fermented with 100% whole bunches for 10 days before the juice was removed from its stems. The wine then matured in hogsheads (25% new). Savoury and pretty, it’s a seamless and complex release with satiny texture and lingering presence.