Bannockburn Serre Pinot Noir 2013

The iconic Serré vineyard is a 32 year old, dry grown, organically managed, low cropping vineyard that produces Bannockburn's most individual Pinot fruit.

Serré is close planted to 9000 vines per hectare (is this Australia's oldest close planted site) and is trellised low with narrow rows - replicating the tough vineyard conditions and low yields per vine of Grand Cru Burgundy. The site is only 1.2 hectares and is planted to the MV6 clone, the cultivar that was propagated from the cuttings that James Busby sourced from Clos Vougeot in the 19th century.

"MV6 close-planted in '84, hand-picked, open-fermented, 100% whole bunches, 15 days on skins, pressed to French hogsheads (one-third new), after 12 months racked to older barriques for a further 7 months. Exceptional colour; whole bunch fermentation is the most frequently discussed aspect of pinot noir making, but Serre almost always comes through as a top pinot, this no exception. Yes, there are savoury characters, but supple red and black cherry and blueberry provide the superstructure. Will be long lived." 95 points, James Halliday, Winecompanion.com.au