Bannockburn 1314 A.D Pinot Noir 2019

The popularity of this baby Bannockburn suggests this wine needs little introduction. For those new to the story, the 1314 is an early-drinking version of Pinot from Bannockburn's Ann's Block--a site that also feeds Bannockburn's Pinot Noir proper. The vines here were planted between 2003 and 2004 to 114, 115 and MV6 clones.

The fruit for the 2019 was mostly de-stemmed (80%), then wild-yeast fermented in four tonne open vessels before it was pressed to French oak hogsheads (10% new) for eight months maturation. Holmes may have toned down some of the polarising elements of the old style, but it's still a classically sappy, spicy and fleshy Pinot with the kind of hearty core that is so typical of the Bannockburn terroir. Again, it's a bargain.