Description
Bass Phillip is a renowned winery in southeastern Australia, specializing in high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines with an uncompromising winemaking approach driven by respect for nature.
The vineyards have been organic since 1993 and biodynamic since 2002, with wine production processes guided by cosmic rhythms.
The wines are made in a simple and traditional manner, with low-cropped vineyards, no irrigation, and minimal intervention in the winery.
Bass Phillip wines have entered a new phase of growth with the entry of Jean-Marie Fourrier and associates in April 2020.
Fourrier’s winemaking philosophy follows the practices of the legendary Henry Jayer, making great wines begin in the vineyard and he will take an active and primary role in the management of the vineyards and the wine production process as Chief Winemaker of Bass Phillip wines.
Bass Phillip wines are known for their vibrant fruit, considerable delicacy, and strong minerality and natural acidity.
They improve with age and can be cellared for well over twenty years.
The three wines at the top of the Bass Phillip hierarchy have always come from the same original 1979 main vineyard in Leongatha.
Bass Phillip’s first Pinot Noir was made in 1984, and the first commercial release took place in 1991.
The Reserve, Premium, and Estate Pinot Noirs were separately vinified in the 1989 vintage, following five years of research into the separate vattings.
Gippsland is a wine region and zone named after a former Governor of Victoria, extending from just east of Melbourne through to the southern NSW border.
The modern revival of the region’s viticulture occurred in the 1970s, and it is a vast geographical region divided into three areas – South, East, and West.
South Gippsland is a cool climate area with significant maritime influence, making it ideal for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
East Gippsland has a more Mediterranean style climate, while West Gippsland is the driest and warmest area.
Soil compositions vary across the region and the principal varieties are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Gippsland is dominated by small family-run estates and has a reputation for fine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The 2019 Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir is a highly regarded wine, known for its exceptional quality and character, and is considered one of Australia’s finest Pinot Noir offerings.
This thoroughly beautiful wine is tremendously detailed and fragrant, unfolding more aromas and flavors as it interacts with the air.
It is recommended to allow the wine to breathe for at least three hours before drinking, as it continues to reveal more detail and charm even after several hours.
This extraordinary wine offers a multi-dimensional experience with superb fruit density and beautiful silken tannins.
It presents aromas of pure, dark cherries, red plums, cranberries, frankincense, wood varnish and gardenias, typical of this beautifully crafted Australian Pinot Noir.
The wine also exhibits notes of red berries, mushroom, dried leaves, herbs and flowers, with a touch of vanillin oak that is expected to dissipate with time.
On the palate, the wine showcases structure and power without overt richness.
Silky, tangy fruit is brightened by well-placed acidity, while chalky, chewy tannins gently increase their grip and power over time.
Overall, the 2019 Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir is highly recommended for its exceptional quality, complexity and character, solidifying its position as one of Australia’s finest and most consistent Pinot Noir wines.
2019 was the last vintages that renowned Pinot producer, Phillip Jones, had his hands in before selling up.
And what a vintage to go out on.
Lucid and detailed, this is an eye-wateringly expensive wine you could wrap yourself into like a satin robe, even without decanting.
Heady aromas of red berries, mushroom, dried leaves, herbs, and flowers, there’s a touch of vanillin oak that should disappear with time.
The palate shows structure and power but never overt richness.
Silky, tangy fruit is brightened by well-placed acidity.
Chalky, chewy tannins come in gentle at first, increasing their grip and power over time.
Long and persistent: Aussie sunshine meets cool Gippsland climate.
Drink now-2033.
– Wine Enthusiast, Points 98/100.
The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Pinot Noir Country – Australia Region – Gippsland, VIC Vintage – 2019 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 14.6%
