Bellvale Pinot Noir 2017

The 2017 Bellvale Pinot Noir is full bodied, ripe and succulent and is outstanding value for money. Sourced from a dry-grown, densely planted, single vineyard planted in the Tarwin River Valley of South Gippsland.

"The palate has abundant fruit-sweetness and mellow developed flavours. There's a lot of very ripe black cherry flavour too, and the wine has an exotic, almost cherry-liqueur aspect as a result. Good intensity. A succulent pinot."  Huon Hooke

Expert reviews

"The vines for this Gippsland Pinot Noir are planted at 7100 vines per hectare. Yield was only 1.7 tonne per hectare. Average vine age is 17 years. The flavours themselves have a lovely warmth theme. Warm spices, stewed berries, refreshing acidity and a burst of woodsy spice notes through the finish. It's complex but it's succulent and accessible. Truth is that it drinks like a charm. Value is self-evident. Drink: 2019-2024."  Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 92 points

John Ellis' dry-grown Gippsland vineyard can deliver some excellent, concentrated wines, even if there is some vintage variation, with Pinot the star. And this red is far too good for $25, it's initially quite fragrant, despite the obvious ripenss, with meat and almost plum fruit – there's a density that I always see in the Bellvale wines. Savoury, vaguely spritzy and with a great composure it's a substantial wine – if just a little dry reddish – at an excellent price. Best drinking: Now to five years."  Andrew Graham, Australian Wine Review - 92 points

"Medium to light red colour with a tint of purple. The aromas are vegetal, vanillan and foresty with sweet-compost touches. The palate is similar, and has abundant fruit-sweetness and mellow developed flavours. There's a lot of very ripe black cherry flavour too, and the wine has an exotic, almost cherry-liqueur aspect as a result. Good intensity. A succulent pinot. Drink 2018 to 2027."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 91 points

About the winery 

Bellvale was established in 1998 by owner/winemaker/viticulturalist John Ellis. The 22 hectares of vineyards are situated in the hills just north of Leongatha, in the lush Tarwin River Valley of South Gippsland. This area is generally acknowledged as one of the country's leading Pinot Noir producing regions. The vineyards are planted to Pinot Noir (14ha), Chardonnay (6ha) and Pinot Grigio (2ha). The vines are dry grown and densely planted at 7100 vines per ha with 2 metre row spacing. 

John Ellis honed his passion for fine wine and viticulture over an extensive time spent in Europe. This included many trips to Burgundy, France, during his 25-year career as a commercial pilot. He chooses to uphold the traditional methods of the premium producers in Burgundy, where vine density is high and crop load limited to sacrifice quantity for quality. "Our vines have extensive and very deep root systems, which allow the fruit to more effectively express the terroir. I agree with the French that great wine is made in the vineyard.” says John. 

Bellvale wines flavour profiles present the full expression of a vineyard tended the artisan way. Its Pinot Noir is elegant and well-structured, featuring a powerful palate of rich, ripe black fruits, with a fine oak influence. Its cool-climate chardonnay is crisper, due to higher acidity, and tightly structured, with a well defined balance between fruit, secondary characters and integrated oak. And the Pinot Grigio is weighty and flavoursome with refreshing acidity.