The Estate Pinot Noir

Brief notes. Great Pinot from the Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard are an annual event these days. The 2023 vintage has just been awarded Halliday’s Pinot Noir of the year. This wine was pale to mid crimson. Red cherry. Essence of Pinot Noir and one of Australia’s best. The reputation set up by Steve Flamsteed and carried on by Melanie Chester and the new ownership in the USA. Sweet sappy red fruits. Medium weight. Very good.

I didn’t make any notes. Bass Phillip Estate has a consistency almost regardless of vintage. The first of my 2018s. Sappy and forest floor. Red fruits. Very Good.

See previous note for a 2016 Estate in September 2022. Mid to transparent ruby red. A gorgeous fragrant nose - red fruited, stalky, dried herbs. The palate just as gorgeous - all those aromatics transfer to the medium weight palate with medium plus intensity. A class act from Bass Phillip as always.

Consistent notes from the previous bottle tasted a year ago on 21st November 2021. Cherry aromatics with some decayed plant matter. Typically Bass Phillip. Towards the end of the bottle stewed fruits (rhubarb). Had the final bottle 28 weeks later on 14th June 2023. Sweet - great palate intensity - the mark of many great wines. Just bought the 2021 vintage today. This is the first vintage made solely by Jacques Fourrier and his team.

My first 2016 BP Estate. Powerful red fruits with a whole bunch stalky element. A typical BP Estate with that stewed fruit rhubarb type character Similar to many other BP Estate Pinots I’ve had on Delectable from other vintages.

The first of 6 of the annual Bass Phillip order. A slight cloudiness to the mid crimson colour which is typical as the wines are often unfiltered. A very Bass Phillip nose and palate of dried cherry, spice and forest floor. A light to medium weight palate. I have been drinking BP Pinots for many years now and this is very much the house style. To be critical the price has crept up under the new ownership and is now just under $100 for the Estate. The following night a note of raspberry.

Savoury mulchy plum with touches of cinnamon and clove - evidence of whole bunch in the ferment. The palate is light to medium weight with red and black fruits with savoury stemminess. Certain Burgundian traits - quality between a Village and a Premier Cru.

See previous note from July 2020. Bright Ruby red. Nose as before with Red fruits and compost heap, forest floor. The palate has those earthy savoury rhubarb flavours and is totally balanced with resolved tannins. At 7 years it is probably at its peak with the palate in harmony with the red fruits (which will fade) and the savoury earthiness. I believe this is the time to drink this even though I see a window through to 2026. Tasted my last 2014 30 weeks later on 30th April 2022. A pale Ruby red with a tawny edge. Amongst the very fragrant perfumed nose there was a sooty note which was a byproduct of whole bunch in the ferment. Also a stewed rhubarb note. An excellent Pinot and 96 points from HH.

Looks like a natural wine in the glass.
The wine itself is methodical and anything but ‘natural’

See many previous notes of this excellent Pinot Noir. My last 2010 Bass Phillip Estate sadly. Pale to mid Ruby in colour giving no hint of the intensity to come. A floral earthy perfume showing beetroot and red fruits - a hint of whole bunch in the ferment. On the palate the same earthy root vegetable flavours with savoury red fruits and that Bass Phillip palate intensity with great length and persistence. Low acidity. An excellent new world Pinot which has cellared well.