2025 Bannockburn Chardonnay, Geelong

Fermented and matured in 25% new French hogsheads and puncheons, 70% mlf. A complex mélange of stone fruit, quince, apple blossom, acacia and marine notes. The palate is equally complex and totally mouth-filling while remaining light on its feet. Finishes silky-textured and very long. A class act that will provide a lot of enjoyment over the next six to eight years. Drink to 2034.

96+ points Special Value Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, September 2026

There are yellow stone fruits characters here, and an array of sweet spice notes, but it’s the flesh, the rush and the juice of grapefruit and ripe pear flavours that both dominate and seduce. This wine really does make you dive quickly in for more. There’s a subtle smokiness, some tonic and mineral-like notes, and an especially noticeable (extra) linger to the finish. This is one of those wines where the acidity itself feels flushed with flavour. The aftertaste then adds some pebble-stone characters, just because it can. What a wine.

96 points Campbell Mattinson for The Wine Front

The 2025 Chardonnay is nutty, complex, rich and tightly coiled, with saline acidity and concentrated, complex characters that persist through the palate as well. I love it. There are notes of sweet tobacco, fennel, white pepper, new leather and honeydew melon. Drink to 2035.

95 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, August 2026

Benchmark Geelong Chardonnay that beautifully captures the tension, texture, and minerality that have made this estate one of Australia’s most revered producers. Grown in the volcanic soils of Victoria’s Moorabool Valley, this Chardonnay reflects the site's natural energy and the minimalist winemaking approach of Matt Holmes, who has continued Bannockburn’s legacy with quiet precision and restraint.

Founded in 1974 by Stuart Hooper, Bannockburn Vineyards was among the first to explore Geelong’s potential for fine wine, long before the region was on the national radar. Hooper’s vision was clear: to produce complex, terroir-driven wines with a distinctly European sensibility. Today, Bannockburn remains family owned and focused entirely on estate-grown fruit, farmed organically and guided by an ethos of purity and authenticity.

The Chardonnay comes from several vineyard parcels, including the iconic Olive Tree Hill and Winery Block sites. Soils here are a mix of volcanic basalt and clay over limestone—conditions that naturally limit yields and give the fruit its signature concentration and mineral core. The grapes are handpicked, whole bunch pressed, and wild fermented in French oak barrels, around 20 to 30 percent new. The wine sees full malolactic fermentation and extended time on lees, building a creamy, savoury texture without losing its line of bright acidity.

In the glass, Bannockburn Chardonnay shows layers of white peach, lemon curd, struck flint, almond meal, and sea spray. The palate is finely textured and elegant, with citrus and stone fruit purity, subtle oak spice, and a long, saline finish. It’s both detailed and understated—a wine of quiet power and finesse that evolves beautifully with time in the glass or cellar.

Perfect with grilled prawns, roast chicken, or creamy pasta with herbs, Bannockburn Chardonnay offers world class quality at a fraction of the price of its international counterparts. It’s a cult wine for good reason balanced, expressive, and unmistakably Geelong.