Bass Phillip Old Cellar Pinot Noir 2018
Style: Red Wine
Closure: Screwcap
Bass Phillip Old Cellar Pinot Noir 2018
Camberwell
Burke Road
Camberwell VIC 3124
Australia
Producer: Bass Phillip
Country: Australia
Region: Gippsland
Vintage: 2018
Critic Score: 95
Alcohol: 13.5%
Size: 750 ml
Drink by: 2030
The 2018 Bass Phillip Old Cellar Pinot Noir is the last vintage available of this wine from the Maestro Phillip Jones, as the label will be discontinued under the new owners. If you want to experience a Bass hillip Pinot Noir without breaking the bank, grab a bottle or two of this gem while you can.
"Phillip Jones handcrafted tiny quantities of superlative pinot noir which, at its best, had no equal in Australia." James Halliday
Expert reviews
"A gem from the Maestro Phillip Jones at an affordable price. Evocative, complex and ethereal. Extraordinary value." Nick Munday, Canterbury Wines - 95 points
About the winery
Bass Phillip was established by Phillip Jones in 1979 when he planted a small 3.5 hectare plot of pinot noir near Leongatha in South Gippsland. The vineyards are located in prime dairy country and are named after early explorers of the region, George Bass and Arthur Phillip. The estate has grown over the years to around 14 hectares and is now one of the most sought-after producers of premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Australia, producing extraordinary wines one vintage after another.
Bass Phillip is located not far from the sea, but far enough inland to experience a continental climate ideal for grape growing. Winemaking at Bass Phillip is uncompromising and driven by respect for nature. The vineyards have been organic since 1993 and biodynamic since 2002.
Made in a simple and traditional manner, with low-cropped vineyards, no irrigation and minimal intervention in the winery, the wines of Bass Phillip display flavours that are characteristic of the region and their individual vineyards. Deep mineral-rich soils, natural high humidity, and cooler temperatures in South Gippsland are also part of the magic that delivers the length, complexity, flavors, balanced acidity, and natural minerality to Bass Phillip wines.
"Phillip Jones handcrafted tiny quantities of superlative pinot noir which, at its best, had no equal in Australia. Painstaking site selection, ultra-close vine spacing and the very cool climate of South Gippsland are the keys to the magic of Bass Phillip and its eerily Burgundian pinots. One of Australia's greatest small producers, they are heading down a new path after Jones sold the assets (winery, stock and 14ha of vineyards) in May 2020 to a syndicate led by Burgundian winemaker Jean-Marie Fourrier (who has known Jones for 14 years) and 2 Singaporeans who already have lucrative wine businesses." James Halliday
Victoria
Victoria is home to more than 800 wineries across 21 wine regions. The regions are Alpine Valley, Beechworth, Bendigo, Geelong, Gippsland, Glenrowan, Goulburn Valley, Grampians, Heathcote, Henty, King Valley, Macedon Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, Murray Darling, Pyrenees, Rutherglen, Strathbogie Ranges, Sunbury, Swan Hill, Upper Goulburn and Yarra Valley.
Victoria's first vines were planted at Yering in the Yarra Valley in 1838. By 1868 over 3,000 acres had been planted in Victoria, establishing Victoria as the premier wine State of the day. Today, the original vineyards planted at Best's Wines are among the oldest and rarest pre-phylloxera plantings in the world.
Victoria's climate varies from hot and dry in the north to cool in the south and each wine region specialises in different varietals. For example, Rutherglen in the north is famous for its opulent Muscats and Topaque and bold reds, while the many cooler climate regions near Melbourne produce world class Chardonnay and pinot Noir. Victoria is truly a wine lover's playground.