French influences abound at Bannockburn, where Sauvignon Blanc draws inspiration from the Sancerre districts of Vallée de la Loire, the emphasis being on elegance and depth of flavour. The maritime influenced climes surrounding Bannockburn's vineyards make for cool and stable ripening, combined with unique soils, providing sensational conditions for growing excellent Sauvignon Blanc. A combination of vinification techniques are employed to construct a singularly engaging wine, it's definitely not another boring, grassy, single dimension style.
From fruit grown to two estate vineyard blocks, one bearing vines over twenty years of age, the other slightly younger, both are low yielding. Each site enjoys it's own mesoclimate, the most recent planting consisting of new French clones with greater vine density. Fruit is vinified through the action of indigenous yeasts, in a mix of seasoned and new, French oak and Italian acacia puncheons, followed by ten months on lees to enhance texture. A third of the Sauvignon Blanc is fermented on skins to achieve back of the palate grip and structure as well as flavour complexity. Small inclusions of Riesling or Chardonnay contribute subtle aromatic perfume, extra weight and body to the final wine.
Straw yellow hue, greenish tints. Complex nose, the classic mineral, cassis and Loire Valley gunflint characters. Fragrant honey and interesting smoky fume scents from the Italian Acacia puncheons. Good weight and texture on the middle palate before assertive acidity drives through the wine, providing excellent length and persistence. A savoury style with lots of texture, seriously Sauvignon Blanc.
