2012 Bannockburn De La Roche Shiraz Museum Release, Geelong

Second release ex new close-planted shiraz vineyard (10 000 vines per hectare), yielding 500 grammes per vine. A super-elegant, highly fragrant spice, pepper, black cherry and blackberry compote that is deceptively light on its feet; fine, but distinctly savoury tannins provide complexity and structure.

96 points winecompanion.com.au July 2021

Second release from this vineyard. Planted at 10,000 vines per hectare. Dry grown cuttings taken from Best's and Tahbilk. In 2012 and 2013, this wine was made with 100% whole bunches. 167 dozen produced. The full Bannockburn drill. Savoury, herbal, peppery and earthen. Solid fruit underpinning, but it's only the third or fourth thing you notice. Smoky. Almost truffly. Threaded with fine, graphite-shot tannin. Kaleidoscopic. 

93+ points Campbell Mattinson winefront.com.au 2015

Long live Bannockburn’s Museum Release program! Initially released in late 2014, this wine was just the second iteration from this site and was entirely well-received. A 96 from Halliday followed, at a time when such high nineties scores made headlines; “Kaleidoscopic”, said Campbell Mattinson. Inspired by his prior vintage in Burgundy at Chateau de la Tour, Glover picked riper and pressed earlier in his search to bring a bit more generosity, flesh and accessibility to his 100% whole bunch style. It worked.
 
Raised in 500-litre seasoned puncheons for 24 months, how does the wine taste after ten years in the Bannockburn Cellar? Complex and unique with signature savouriness and Bannockburn flair. It’s in a brilliant spot, dense with umami characters, almost youthful acidity, beautifully integrated tannins and an attractive iron filing, blood-like mark lending complexity and intrigue to the fleshy and supple palate. 

Planted in 2007, this 0.8-hectare vineyard lies on higher ground above the 'De La Terre' slope, so essentially it’s a westerly extension of the 'Serré' vineyard. The vines came from cuttings taken from Best’s and Tahbilk. The name ‘From the Rocks’ alludes to the plethora of volcanic rocks that litter the soil of this parcel. Again, the planting density of 10,000 vines/ha results in a naturally low yield of just 500g per vine (or less). To put this in perspective, Bannockburn’s old-vine Shiraz from the Range vineyard – already a low-yielding site – crops closer to 1.5-2kg per vine.