2024 Bannockburn Grigsby Chardonnay
2024 Bannockburn Grigsby Chardonnay

2024 Bannockburn Grigsby Chardonnay

96 pts SUCKLING TOP 100
Bannockburn |Geelong |Chardonnay
A single-block Chardonnay that underlines Bannockburn’s reputation as one of Australia’s great Chardonnay producers - textural, focused and deeply expressive.
Price:
$79.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
Rendering loop-subscriptions

Description

Bannockburn has long been one of Australia’s benchmark producers of Chardonnay, and the Grigsby block shows exactly why. Planted in 2007 on clay over basalt and limestone, and farmed organically, this vineyard has quickly earned its place alongside the estate’s most prized sites.

The 2024 release was handpicked, whole-bunch pressed and fermented wild in French oak, with just enough new barrels to add polish without stepping on the fruit. Full malo and ten months on lees bring texture and savoury depth, but the core of citrus and stone fruit remains bright and focused.

What you get is a Chardonnay that’s layered, precise and quietly powerful - the sort of wine that makes you understand why Bannockburn has become such a touchstone for Victorian Chardonnay. It’s compelling without trying too hard, and proof that this producer is still at the very top of its game.

96+ points
"Will be even better when it opens up over the next two to three years. Tops."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

Ryan Montgomery

Ryan Montgomery

James Suckling 96 Points

Top 100 Australian Wines of 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. Screw cap.

Campbell Mattinson

Campbell Mattinson

The Wine Front 95 Points

Grigsby Chardonnay is grown on the estate’s close-planted (8333 vines per hectare), certified organic vineyard. It’s named after Lucas Grimsby, who has worked in the vineyards at Bannockburn since 1987.

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.

Philip Rich

Philip Rich

Halliday Wine Companion 96 Points

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.

Grigsby is our close-planted, certified organic Chardonnay block planted in 2007. Named in honour of our long-term viticulturalist and now grounds manager, Lucas Grigsby, who has been with us since 1987, this block continues our exploration into high-density viticulture with Chardonnay.

Viticulture

Grigsby Chardonnay is made from a 0.87-acre vineyard block, originally planted in 2007 and grafted to Chardonnay clone Bernard 76 in 2019. The vine spacing is 1m and the row spacing is 1.2m (8,333 vines/hectare), with north-south row orientation. The soils are dark clay over weathered basalt and limestone.

Winemaking

Handpicked parcels of fruit were whole bunch pressed, settled overnight, and racked to barrels for a wild yeast fermentation in French oak hogsheads; approximately 25% was new oak. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally on 100% of the blend and completed in spring. The wine was left on lees, unstirred, for 10 months prior to blending and bottling.

Tasting Notes

Grigsby leans into a broader, more textural style of Chardonnay. The nose is cool and focused, with hints of pure pear, apple skin, and a touch of crème caramel. The palate builds with grip and generosity. There’s a chewiness to the structure, balanced by saline freshness and underlying power. A complex layered wine that continues to evolve in glass.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type White
Body Full Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Geelong
Australian State VIC
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 13%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Screw Cap

Bannockburn

For over 50 years, Bannockburn has been a quiet force in Australian fine wine. The story began in 1974 when Stuart Hooper discovered and planted this now-iconic site in Victoria’s Moorabool Valley. In 1978, Gary Farr joined as winemaker, bringing a Burgundian lens that helped define the estate’s identity.

Today, Matt Holmes leads the winemaking, first stepping in for the 2005 vintage and returning permanently in 2015 after Michael Glover’s departure. Holmes’ style is thoughtful and site-first - guided by organics, minimal intervention, and an intuitive feel for balance. His Chardonnays are chiseled and composed. The Pinot Noirs - more precise than ever - are some of Victoria's best.

Viticulturist Lucas Grigsby, a 30-year veteran, tends the vines with the same hands-on, regenerative mindset. Together, they farm sustainably - straw mulching, composting, and nurturing cover crops - all to express the site with absolute clarity.

Bannockburn’s single-vineyard range tells the deeper story. S.R.H. Chardonnay draws tension and salinity from ancient marine sediments. The iconic Serré vineyard, planted densely in 1984, channels a Grand Cru sensibility. These are wines shaped by place, not ego. They hum with Burgundian influence, but speak fluently in an Australian accent.

Winemaker Matt Holmes - Geelong, VIC Bannockburn

Others also liked

Recently viewed

Common Questions

Delivery is free on orders of $150 or more.

For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.

Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

No sorry we do not have a store front and pickup is not available.

Yes, no problem. When placing your order select ‘Store at Different Drop and Delivery Later’ as your shipping method or reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order with additional instructions.

We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.

To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you. 

If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.

 

Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.

Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.

No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.

No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.

If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.

Need a hand?

We’d love to help you out! Most questions can be sorted quickly through our Help Centre or by dropping us a line on chat or email. If it’s something urgent or you just really want to have a yarn about wine, food, or even the meaning of life, give us a call — we’re here for you.

Regular Enquiries

hello@differentdrop.com

Urgent Enquiries

02 8376 8775