2025 Bannockburn Riesling

97 pts
Alluring, off-beat Riesling from Geelong, with a lush texture and great length.

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Sale price$30.00
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Description

We spend so much time raving about Bannockburn’s Pinots and Chardonnays that we often forget they are sitting on one of the best Riesling vineyards in Victoria.

The Olive Tree Hill block isn't some recent experiment; it was planted back in 1976 on the estate's unique limestone-rich soils. That is serious old vine heritage, and it shows in the glass. Because this is Geelong and not the Clare Valley, you get a completely different beast here. It is not just about searing acid, it is about weight and texture.

Winemaker Matt Holmes leans into that naturally powerful style, keeping the wine on lees to build a fleshy, mouth-filling shape. Sure, you get the classic citrus and blossom notes, but they are wrapped up in layers of musk stick, wet stone and brine. It is savoury, salty and satisfyingly grippy. A Riesling with actual meat on its bones.

97 points
"The balance of fruit and acidity is nigh on perfect. A gorgeous wine from go to whoa!"
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

93+ points
"No hesitation. Feels soft. Tastes good. Extends well."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

97 points - "Made mainly from 0.4ha of vines planted in 1976. A light, bright green gold. A delicate and complex bouquet of just-picked white peach, grapefruit, lemongrass and flowers. The palate is just as delicate and vibrant, finishing dry and very long. The balance of fruit and acidity is nigh on perfect. A gorgeous wine from go to whoa!" - Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points - "A lovely release with floral-edged aromas of citrus blossoms, lemons, white flowers, lanolin and pears. The palate is textural, with great fruit density and vibrant acidity that carries both weight and a mineral-edged backbone without being too broad. Nicely constructed, with a few grams of sugar bringing balance to the acidity. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - Ryan Mongomery (James Suckling)

93+ points - "Riesling was among the original vines planted in 1976 at Bannockburn near Geelong. This wine is mostly grown on those original vines with some extra input from a block planted near the winery in 2015. Lovely wine. Lovely flavour and mouthfeel. Apples, citrus, lime leaf and white flowers with a slatey bite to the finish. No hesitation. Feels soft. Tastes good. Extends well." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
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Nick W.
Absolutely delicious!

Drinking very well now – we're holding onto a few as we think it'll be drinking just as well for several years to come!

Riesling was one of the original varieties planted at Olive Tree Hill vineyard in 1976. The beauty of this variety from our site is in the way it expresses the character and complexity of our unique limestone rich soils

Viticulture
Bannockburn Riesling is made predominantly from an acre of vines at Olive Tree Hill planted in 1976 on own roots, which sits at the top of the north facing slope. Included in the blend is a small vineyard planted in 2015 as an extension of the Winery Block.

Winemaking
Handpicked fruit was whole bunch pressed, settled over night, and racked to tank for temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel. After fermentation the wine was racked to stainless steel for a 3-month maturation on lees prior to bottling.

Tasting Note
Bannockburn Riesling 2025 is bright and detailed, carrying the limestone and old vine character of Olive Tree Hill. Jasmine, white blossom and a touch of wet stone lead into a taut, citrus-driven palate of citrus, musk stick and lemongrass. There’s a gentle saline edge and chalky texture that give the wine shape and persistence. A quietly expressive Riesling that speaks as much of place as it does of variety.

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type White
Body Light Bodied
Variety Riesling
Country Australia
Region Geelong
Australian State VIC
Feature High Score
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Halliday Wine Companion
James Suckling
Critic Score 97
Alcohol 13%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
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

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