Bellvale The Quercus Pinot Noir 2017

The Quercus is the flagship pinot noir produced at Bellvale and is only made in the top vintages. Like its cheaper sibling it is 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 bouquet is shy and reserved, gently foresty, and it has abundant flavour and grip, the finish drying and long, with an abundance of tannins. It's very good value."  Huon Hooke

Expert reviews

"Yes. We're in winning form here. It's pushed with fruit flavour but it's lively with cool climate tang/spice/savouriness. Roots, leaves, twigs and soil but flush with fresh fruit, ripe and summery. Both complex and straight-out enjoyable. Price is beyond reasonable. Drink : 2020 - 2025+."  Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front – 93+ points

"Deepish red colour with a good tint of purple. The bouquet is shy and reserved, gently foresty, and it has abundant flavour and grip, the finish drying and long, with an abundance of tannins. It's just a wee bit tough at this stage and would work better with food than without. It's very good value."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 92 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.