Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir 2016

"Phillip Jones handcrafted tiny quantities of superlative pinot noir which, at its best, had no equal in Australia."  James Halliday

"A madly rare, profoundly intense and exquisitely balanced wine which reflects the nuances of an exceptional vineyard site. The Reserve is made from five rows of 'precocious' Pinot Noir vines in the centre of a closely spaced (9000 vines/hectare) north-east facing vineyard planted on silty loams. Winemaker Phillip Jones is increasingly using 'minimal intervention' principles to achieve a natural balance and optimum flavour development. He believes the difference between good and great Pinot is texture. The unfiltered Reserve, matured for 20 months in new Alliers oak, is a brilliant example of Australian terroir showing plenty of concentrated spicy/black cherry fruit, savoury mocha oak and supple tannins and is widely regarded as Australia's greatest, most consistent and characterful Pinot Noir."  Andrew Caillard MW

"An extravagantly beautiful wine that floats across the senses making the Premium seem uncouth on the way past. Its perfume is no false dawn, its flavours drawn across the palate by silken threads that only come fully into play when you think about spitting the wine out, and refuse point blank to countenance that. Great pinot noir proves its ascendance over all other varietal wines by its peerless beauty of youth, of middle age, and of old age. I've sworn never to give a table wine 100 points, which this richly deserves."  James Halliday

Expert reviews

"An extravagantly beautiful wine that floats across the senses making the Premium seem uncouth on the way past. Its perfume is no false dawn, its flavours drawn across the palate by silken threads that only come fully into play when you think about spitting the wine out, and refuse point blank to countenance that. Great pinot noir proves its ascendance over all other varietal wines by its peerless beauty of youth, of middle age, and of old age. I've sworn never to give a table wine 100 points, which this richly deserves. Drink By: 2046. Alcohol:13.1%."  James Halliday - 99 points

"Medium to light red/purple colour. The bouquet has dried herb, dried floral notes as well as earthiness, discreet red and darker cherries and great charm. It's the same in the mouth: very fine and subtle, intense and long, with terrific complexity: a really fine range of aromas. An elegant wine, this is a much lighter, finer, more ethereal, less-oaky and more Chambolle style of Bass Phillip Reserve, a major contrast to the whopping 2015. It's also more beautiful. Drink 2018 to 2032."  Huon Hooke - 97 points

About the reserve pinot noir

The story

The intense and exquisitely balanced Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir is derived from a remarkably low-yielding vineyard of just 9000 vines per hectare and 270 grams of fruit per vine.

Anchored in deep mineral soils renowned for producing particularly intense and concentrated fruit, the Reserve Pinot Noir is primarily based on five rows of MV6 heritage clones, colonial vine stock material first imported to Australia by James Busby in 1832.

The balanced acidity and energy in the wine reflect a perfect tension between soil composition, cooler temperatures during the growing season and the relatively high humidity of South Gippsland.

The wine is a brilliant example of Australian terroir, where the signatures of the vineyard site and winemaker bring profound results.

The winemaking

Natural balance and optimum flavour development are a key focus and are achieved through minimal intervention winemaking. The vineyard management at Bass Phillip has been organic since 1993 and biodynamic since 2002. The Reserve Pinot Noir is unfiltered and matured in new Allier oak for 20 months.

The wine

Typically this wine possesses an extraordinary multi-dimensional experience with superb fruit density and beautiful silken tannins. Expect evolution in the glass, with aromas of pure, dark cherries, red plums and cranberries, before transforming into frankincense, wood varnish and gardenias. These are typical descriptors for this great, beautifully crafted Australian pinot noir. 

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