Bannockburn - Olive Tree Hill Pinot Noir - 2024

It’s grown on vines planted in 1976, which means that it’s grown on Bannockburn’s oldest vines. 1976 is effectively ancient in Australian pinot noir terms. There’s polish to this wine, and a meatiness, and savoury inputs aplenty, and a long confident push through the finish. It’s Bannockburn pinot noir to a tee. Red cherry, tonic water, rhubarb, undergrowth and woodsmoke characters run into rust, steel, earth and cedar. There’s a umami aspect to this wine; indeed it runs right through it. Courtesy of this wine’s balance – and long, even flow through the finish – you could easily drink this now. But it will be a more complex delight with some years under its belt. 95 Points Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front