Bass Phillip
Reserve Pinot Noir
Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
As I’ve said previously it’s always a highlight to drink a Bass Phillip Reserve - Australia’s Best Pinot Noir. Nose of Asian spices, decayed plant matter/compost heap, mushroom and Sous Bois in general - a gorgeous nose. The palate is also gorgeous and of profound intensity with medium minus acid - great length and persistence. Treads the line of intensity and elegance. An amazingly good Pinot of Premier Cru but more of Grand Cru standard. I haven’t been buying recent vintages because the French owners have jacked up the price significantly / now approaching $1000, whereas I paid $495 for this 2013.
As I’ve said previously it’s always a highlight to drink a Bass Phillip Reserve - Australia’s Best Pinot Noir. Nose of Asian spices, decayed plant matter/compost heap, mushroom and Sous Bois in general - a gorgeous nose. The palate is also gorgeous and of profound intensity with medium minus acid - great length and persistence. Treads the line of intensity and elegance. An amazingly good Pinot of Premier Cru but more of Grand Cru standard. I haven’t been buying recent vintages because the French owners have jacked up the price significantly / now approaching $1000, whereas I paid $495 for this 2013.
Jun 7th, 2025Always a tasting highlight having a Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir the leading Pinot Noir in Australia although the competition is coming. See previous Delectable note. It pours a medium red with a distinct tawny edge. Barb said red fruits (cherry) and bunchy. I certainly agree on both counts. All BP Reserves are special but the 2012 is not one of the greats. - perhaps a little bunchy, to be ultra picky.
Always a tasting highlight having a Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir the leading Pinot Noir in Australia although the competition is coming. See previous Delectable note. It pours a medium red with a distinct tawny edge. Barb said red fruits (cherry) and bunchy. I certainly agree on both counts. All BP Reserves are special but the 2012 is not one of the greats. - perhaps a little bunchy, to be ultra picky.
Dec 15th, 2024The Reserve is made from 5 rows of vines in the centre of the closely spaced (9000 vines per hectare) north east facing vineyard planted on silky loam. The unfiltered Reserve is matured for 20 months in new Alliers oak. Regarding colour this is mid crimson with tawny notes. A stunning nose - a red fruited perfume (cherry) with loamy Sous Bois notes (compost heap). Those aromatics translate to the medium bodied palate finishing with fine silky tannins. Very Bass Phillip. Obviously in the conversation regarding the best Pinot Noir in Australia. I would give the mantle to the BP Reserve. It should be for the price. One should not approach a BP Reserve under 10 years of age. This is of top 1er Cru and Grand Cru standard.
The Reserve is made from 5 rows of vines in the centre of the closely spaced (9000 vines per hectare) north east facing vineyard planted on silky loam. The unfiltered Reserve is matured for 20 months in new Alliers oak. Regarding colour this is mid crimson with tawny notes. A stunning nose - a red fruited perfume (cherry) with loamy Sous Bois notes (compost heap). Those aromatics translate to the medium bodied palate finishing with fine silky tannins. Very Bass Phillip. Obviously in the conversation regarding the best Pinot Noir in Australia. I would give the mantle to the BP Reserve. It should be for the price. One should not approach a BP Reserve under 10 years of age. This is of top 1er Cru and Grand Cru standard.
Feb 8th, 2024See previous Delectable Note for the 2009 vintage from 88 weeks ago. Similar tasting note with a nose of Compost Heap, Sous Bois and dirty red and black cherry. Still a strong core of energy - could go on for another 5 years. Arguably Australia’s greatest Pinot Noir - definitely of Grand Cru quality. A lovely textured medium bodied palate. Only 40 dozen made. Philip Jones said at the time that 2009 was one of his best vintages, although to be honest he has made a few just as good, if not better, since.
See previous Delectable Note for the 2009 vintage from 88 weeks ago. Similar tasting note with a nose of Compost Heap, Sous Bois and dirty red and black cherry. Still a strong core of energy - could go on for another 5 years. Arguably Australia’s greatest Pinot Noir - definitely of Grand Cru quality. A lovely textured medium bodied palate. Only 40 dozen made. Philip Jones said at the time that 2009 was one of his best vintages, although to be honest he has made a few just as good, if not better, since.
May 28th, 2023Always a highlight of the tasting year to have a Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir - probably Australia’s best PN - certainly our most expensive. The colour is a light dirty cherry with a tawny rim. See 2 previous Delectable notes. Red fruited (cherry) perfume with rose petals. A touch of caramel oak - Rhubarb/stewed fruits , Forest floor/Sous Bois/Compost heap - great complexity. The light to medium bodied palate reflects the nose. One could keep this in the cellar at least until its 15th birthday in a few years.
Always a highlight of the tasting year to have a Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir - probably Australia’s best PN - certainly our most expensive. The colour is a light dirty cherry with a tawny rim. See 2 previous Delectable notes. Red fruited (cherry) perfume with rose petals. A touch of caramel oak - Rhubarb/stewed fruits , Forest floor/Sous Bois/Compost heap - great complexity. The light to medium bodied palate reflects the nose. One could keep this in the cellar at least until its 15th birthday in a few years.
Oct 4th, 2022Light Ruby in colour. A gorgeous nose of dusty red and black cherry with Five spice, decayed plant matter, sous Bois. I could sniff this for hours. Tastes way more youthful than 12 years with a solid core of red and black fruits which is gradually releasing - finishing with silky tannins. A few hours later that earthy red fruited perfume just keeps on giving. Only 2 barrels made, so, about 40 dozen.
Light Ruby in colour. A gorgeous nose of dusty red and black cherry with Five spice, decayed plant matter, sous Bois. I could sniff this for hours. Tastes way more youthful than 12 years with a solid core of red and black fruits which is gradually releasing - finishing with silky tannins. A few hours later that earthy red fruited perfume just keeps on giving. Only 2 barrels made, so, about 40 dozen.
Sep 19th, 2021Initially ungiving on the nose - latent but the power is there. With air a rose petal note developed. On the light to medium weight palate there was Dark cherry, spice and some stalkiness. An excellent new world Pinot, considered Australia’s best - it should be for the price, but I have had better Bass Phillip Reserves. The following night, stewed fruits- a rhubarb and savoury cherry note. I have one left which I will probably drink in a year or two.
Initially ungiving on the nose - latent but the power is there. With air a rose petal note developed. On the light to medium weight palate there was Dark cherry, spice and some stalkiness. An excellent new world Pinot, considered Australia’s best - it should be for the price, but I have had better Bass Phillip Reserves. The following night, stewed fruits- a rhubarb and savoury cherry note. I have one left which I will probably drink in a year or two.
Aug 6th, 2021Great depth of red fruits, Rose petals and Sous Bois on nose. A burnt toffee/varnishy note from the oak. The nose promises more than the palate initially but with air the palate had caught up and grown in volume which was medium bodied showing black cherry and Asian Spices with M+ Intensity and Length. I kept going back to this brilliant Burgundian nose. Opening this wine was unplanned because of a small wine fridge failure but it is always a highlight of the wine year opening a Bass Phillip Reserve - Australia’s Best Pinot Noir I believe.
Great depth of red fruits, Rose petals and Sous Bois on nose. A burnt toffee/varnishy note from the oak. The nose promises more than the palate initially but with air the palate had caught up and grown in volume which was medium bodied showing black cherry and Asian Spices with M+ Intensity and Length. I kept going back to this brilliant Burgundian nose. Opening this wine was unplanned because of a small wine fridge failure but it is always a highlight of the wine year opening a Bass Phillip Reserve - Australia’s Best Pinot Noir I believe.
May 30th, 2020Aromas of mushroom and forest floor. Great intensity on the palate. One of the most impressive statements I’ve ever read about this winery and it’s wines was from Rob Geddes MW who said “Putting it simply, Bass Phillip has made some of the best Pinot Noir I’ve drunk in my whole life, from anywhere of any age”. I would think that Rob, being a Master of Wine would have drunk quite a number of Grand Crus in his time so this is quite the accolade. Even at 12 years of age still a future - say 3 to 5 years. Phillip Jones says up to 15 years. Palate staining root vegetable juice!!
Aromas of mushroom and forest floor. Great intensity on the palate. One of the most impressive statements I’ve ever read about this winery and it’s wines was from Rob Geddes MW who said “Putting it simply, Bass Phillip has made some of the best Pinot Noir I’ve drunk in my whole life, from anywhere of any age”. I would think that Rob, being a Master of Wine would have drunk quite a number of Grand Crus in his time so this is quite the accolade. Even at 12 years of age still a future - say 3 to 5 years. Phillip Jones says up to 15 years. Palate staining root vegetable juice!!
Apr 7th, 2019Pale Crimson with a tawny rim. Nose of Mushroom, rose petal, compost and red berry notes. On the palate M+ intensity- some earthy varnishy berry flavours. Persistent savoury tannins. A lovely Pinot in anyone's language. BP say drink to 15 years. I have one left. See how long I last! Generally agreed to be Australia's best Pinot Noir.
Pale Crimson with a tawny rim. Nose of Mushroom, rose petal, compost and red berry notes. On the palate M+ intensity- some earthy varnishy berry flavours. Persistent savoury tannins. A lovely Pinot in anyone's language. BP say drink to 15 years. I have one left. See how long I last! Generally agreed to be Australia's best Pinot Noir.
Jul 20th, 2017