Bass Phillip's new collection is a celebration vintage. The 2021 wines come from the first vintage that has been completely managed by the new team – from growing, harvest and elevage to blending and bottling.
Phillip Jones handed the baton to Burgundy’s Jean-Marie Fourrier (after the sale of Bass Phillip in 2020), who is the man behind Gevrey-Chambertin red burgundies. He says the 2021 vintage produced above average yields, which has resulted in wines that are finessed and precise.
The Bass Phillip team are united by the mission to produce wines of elegance that have the trademark Bass Phillip complexity and length. Their key focus is on precision – whether that's in the vineyards, winery or cellar.
Jean-Marie says the producing wine in Burgundy and Gippsland are not the same, but the philosophy remains. "The key difference is the terroir and climate, while both regions are well-suited to the varieties we produce, they are not the same, and the winemaking is adjusted accordingly. The philosophy of being connected to each block, ferment and barrel remains the same, and that the wine is a reflection of place rather than style."
Jean-Marie says he loves that Gippsland is "unexplored" from a wine growing perspective. "...And that our vines are certainly the oldest in the region and we can honour the courageous decision that was made to plant vines here in the late 1970s."
The team is now future-proofing Bass Phillip, with a new winery being built, continued investment in the vineyard, replacing trellising to continue to elevate the vines, along with a few new plantings.
Bass Phillip pinot noir to try
2021 Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir
A complex wine that evolves in the glass to reveal its multi layered personality. Oak plays a significant part in a respectful way, but the quality of the fruit reveals itself with time to become a bouquet of deep black cherry with notes of wood spice, cocoa, vanilla and nascent sweet compost. A silky, fine palate, still tightly wound with great depth and length of flavour. With time the palate will mollify and the flavours lengthen to provide a delicious treat.H. What do you love about this wine?
JMF. Selecting the few, and clearly outstanding, barrels that made up the 2021 Reserve Pinot Noir was relatively straight forward. We love that this wine can (and should) sit alongside some of the best pinot noir in the world.
RRP $835 | Drink to 2040 | Shop this wine
2021 Bass Phillip Premium Pinot Noir
Glace cherries and savoury, dusty notes greet the nose initially but also showing hints of vanilla and spice; refined and poised at this stage but rest assured complexity will crescendo with time. The palate is svelte and satiny, lovely balance, resolved and complete with lovely length that will only get better with age. If drunk young we recommend decanting for an hour or so.H. What do you love about this wine?
JMF. Depth of flavour, structure, complexity and length are some of the attributes this wine consistently offers. I love to observe the evolution of the Premium Pinot Noir in the glass...if I can leave it there long enough.
RRP $260 | Drink to 2037 | Shop this wine
2021 Bass Phillip Estate Pinot Noir
Fragrant potpourri of aromas, rose petals and red berry notes, with a hint of China tea; the very essence of Pinot Noir. A classic iron fist in a velvet glove palate. A lush fruit driven middle, enveloped by powdery tannins with delicious flavours that dance delicately across the palate.H. What do you love about this wine?
JMF. We love that the vineyard this wine comes from is just coming of age, at around 30 years old, and the wines are really starting to reflect the terroir of that site while allowing the youthful fruit to shine through.
RRP $105 | Drink to 2037 | Shop this wine
For more information visit bassphillip.com.
