2024 Bannockburn Grigsby Chardonnay, Geelong

From a 0.4ha close-planted vineyard. Barrel fermented and matured in 25% new hogsheads and with 100% mlf. A light, bright green gold. In contrast to the slightly richer and more open Winery Block Chardonnay, this is more restrained with its aromas of pink grapefruit, just-ripened stone fruits, oyster shells and almond. The palate is equally restrained and there's a touch of orange pith on the gently spicy, long finale. Will be even better when it opens up over the next two to three years. Tops. Drink 2025 to 2032.

96+ points Philip Rich for Halliday Wine Companion, November 2025

The 50th-anniversary vintage is named for Lucas Grigsby, Bannockburn's long-term viticulturist. The vineyard was planted in 2007 at a high density and is certified organic. Aromatically, the 2024 Grigsby Chardonnay leads with gently toasted nuts, white peach, lanolin, stewed apple and nectarine. In the mouth, the wine is rich and full, with a creamy middle palate and subtly texturing phenolics through the finish. This is both sophisticated and pleasurable—a winning combination. Saline acidity is woven throughout, lending balance to the fruit. This is an excellent wine. Drink 2025 to 2039.

96 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, December 2025

A lovely mineral tension lies beneath layers of citrus confit, lanolin, white flowers, flint and orange peel. The palate has a fine line of acidity, with textural weight and a mineral undertone that cuts through the rounded mouthfeel. Made from a close-planted block of Bernard clone 76, 8,300 vines per hectare. Drink or hold.

96 points James Suckling, August 2025

Lifted and layered aromas of grapefruit pith, stone fruit, orange rind, white flowers, nutty oak, melon, spice and a touch of nettle. Powerful and mouth-filling, with a lovely core of stone fruit, nuts and creamy oak all at play. There's a plushness of flavour, but the acidity and a lick of phenolics keep it all heading in the right direction. Impressive gear. Drink 2025 to 2035.

95 points Aaron Brasher for The Real Review, November 2025

Quite a lot of colour to this wine and powerful fruit up-front, though the finish is then as restrained as it is long. This is a honed wine if ever there was one. Nougat, grilled peach, steel, mineral, orange rind and lemongrass characters put on a powerful display, lemon blossom notes then rising through the finish. Despite its colour this is a wine with yet plenty up its sleeve. The length of the finish here though puts a significant positive emphasis on the quality on offer.

95 points Campbell Mattinson for The Wine Front

Lucas Grigsby has been Bannockburn's viticultural manager for 35 years and knows its vineyards intimately. The certified organic block named in his honour was planted in 2007 at high density and grafted from Shiraz to Bernard 76 Chardonnay clone in 2019. This clone was introduced by Lucas and winemaker Matt Holmes to expand Bannockburn’s clonal palette beyond the Penfolds clones planted in the early years. The soils here are dark cracking clay over weathered basalt and limestone.

Whole bunch pressed, settled overnight and wild fermented in French oak hogsheads — 25% new — with full malolactic fermentation and 10 months on lees unstirred before blending and bottling.

Of Bannockburn’s three single-vineyard Chardonnays in the 2024 release, Grigsby stands out for its textural qualities. Pink grapefruit, ripe pear, lanolin, oyster shell and almond on the nose with white flowers and a flinty mineral thread. The palate is rich and mouth-filling with saline acidity woven throughout, a chewiness to the extract and a long, precise finish that keeps pulling you back.

This is a complex and layered wine that evolves in the glass and will be better still in the years to come. The wine's current mineral tension and saline freshness suit a whole roasted snapper with lemon and herbs or a Venetian-style seared scallop with white polenta and sage brown butter. An aged bottle will have you cooking altogether different recipes.

Drink now through 2035.