2022 Bass Phillip 'Reserve' Pinot Noir
“The DRC of the southern hemisphere”
Max Allen
“The greatest Australasian Pinot ever made”.
James Halliday on the Reserve Pinot Noir 2010
"Truly pushes the boundaries of Australian Pinot Noir greatness."
Lisa Perrotti Brown MW
"Putting it simply, Bass Phillip has made some of best pinot noir I’ve drunk in my whole life, from anywhere of any age."
Robert Geddes MW
"Make no mistake about it...these are brilliant Pinot Noirs, undoubtedly the finest being produced in Australia."
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
97 points Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
The three BP pinots are a tier of grandness and, of course, a price differential. The Reserve is the pinnacle, a barrel selection with five making the cut and all up, aged in 60% new oak for 14 months. It’s rather magnificent. Heady aromas all florals, spice, licorice root and deep, dark cherries, kirsch, too. And yes, cedary oak and wood spices in the mix but it’s not overt as the quality of fruit takes it all in. Full bodied, ripe, plump and velvety tannins with acidity in tow. It’s a powerful wine in the riper spectrum but it holds its own. An excellent Reserve.
95 points Houn Hooke, The Real Review
Very deep, dark red/purple colour, savoury aromas of walnut, pencil wood, and dried herbs while varietal fruit is well in the background. A massive, powerful wine of tremendous concentration of flavour backed by masses of drying tannins. The core of fruit is incredibly rich and profound, sweetly superripe and almost decadently sumptuous, the persistence impressive. The only question mark: is it a touch overripe? It lacks the freshness of both the Estate and Premium bottlings. I'd give it at least a year or two to allow the oak more time to harmonise fully.
Overview:
Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir, born from a sparse vineyard yielding 9000 vines per hectare, delivers an exquisite balance and intensity. Cultivated in mineral-rich soils, mainly from five rows of MV6 heritage clones, it echoes Australia's viticultural legacy. Its lively acidity reflects the region's elements—soil, cooler weather, and heightened humidity in South Gippsland. This wine epitomises Australian terroir, merging the vineyard's essence and winemaker's skill into a profound expression. Notably, in 2020, Jean-Marie Fourrier of Domaine Fourrier in Gevrey-Chambertin acquired Bass Phillip, marking a significant shift.
“The DRC of the southern hemisphere”
Max Allen
“The greatest Australasian Pinot ever made”.
James Halliday on the Reserve Pinot Noir 2010
"Truly pushes the boundaries of Australian Pinot Noir greatness."
Lisa Perrotti Brown MW
"Putting it simply, Bass Phillip has made some of best pinot noir I’ve drunk in my whole life, from anywhere of any age."
Robert Geddes MW
"Make no mistake about it...these are brilliant Pinot Noirs, undoubtedly the finest being produced in Australia."
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
97 points Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
The three BP pinots are a tier of grandness and, of course, a price differential. The Reserve is the pinnacle, a barrel selection with five making the cut and all up, aged in 60% new oak for 14 months. It’s rather magnificent. Heady aromas all florals, spice, licorice root and deep, dark cherries, kirsch, too. And yes, cedary oak and wood spices in the mix but it’s not overt as the quality of fruit takes it all in. Full bodied, ripe, plump and velvety tannins with acidity in tow. It’s a powerful wine in the riper spectrum but it holds its own. An excellent Reserve.
95 points Houn Hooke, The Real Review
Very deep, dark red/purple colour, savoury aromas of walnut, pencil wood, and dried herbs while varietal fruit is well in the background. A massive, powerful wine of tremendous concentration of flavour backed by masses of drying tannins. The core of fruit is incredibly rich and profound, sweetly superripe and almost decadently sumptuous, the persistence impressive. The only question mark: is it a touch overripe? It lacks the freshness of both the Estate and Premium bottlings. I'd give it at least a year or two to allow the oak more time to harmonise fully.
Overview:
Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir, born from a sparse vineyard yielding 9000 vines per hectare, delivers an exquisite balance and intensity. Cultivated in mineral-rich soils, mainly from five rows of MV6 heritage clones, it echoes Australia's viticultural legacy. Its lively acidity reflects the region's elements—soil, cooler weather, and heightened humidity in South Gippsland. This wine epitomises Australian terroir, merging the vineyard's essence and winemaker's skill into a profound expression. Notably, in 2020, Jean-Marie Fourrier of Domaine Fourrier in Gevrey-Chambertin acquired Bass Phillip, marking a significant shift.
“The DRC of the southern hemisphere”
Max Allen
“The greatest Australasian Pinot ever made”.
James Halliday on the Reserve Pinot Noir 2010
"Truly pushes the boundaries of Australian Pinot Noir greatness."
Lisa Perrotti Brown MW
"Putting it simply, Bass Phillip has made some of best pinot noir I’ve drunk in my whole life, from anywhere of any age."
Robert Geddes MW
"Make no mistake about it...these are brilliant Pinot Noirs, undoubtedly the finest being produced in Australia."
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
97 points Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
The three BP pinots are a tier of grandness and, of course, a price differential. The Reserve is the pinnacle, a barrel selection with five making the cut and all up, aged in 60% new oak for 14 months. It’s rather magnificent. Heady aromas all florals, spice, licorice root and deep, dark cherries, kirsch, too. And yes, cedary oak and wood spices in the mix but it’s not overt as the quality of fruit takes it all in. Full bodied, ripe, plump and velvety tannins with acidity in tow. It’s a powerful wine in the riper spectrum but it holds its own. An excellent Reserve.
95 points Houn Hooke, The Real Review
Very deep, dark red/purple colour, savoury aromas of walnut, pencil wood, and dried herbs while varietal fruit is well in the background. A massive, powerful wine of tremendous concentration of flavour backed by masses of drying tannins. The core of fruit is incredibly rich and profound, sweetly superripe and almost decadently sumptuous, the persistence impressive. The only question mark: is it a touch overripe? It lacks the freshness of both the Estate and Premium bottlings. I'd give it at least a year or two to allow the oak more time to harmonise fully.
Overview:
Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir, born from a sparse vineyard yielding 9000 vines per hectare, delivers an exquisite balance and intensity. Cultivated in mineral-rich soils, mainly from five rows of MV6 heritage clones, it echoes Australia's viticultural legacy. Its lively acidity reflects the region's elements—soil, cooler weather, and heightened humidity in South Gippsland. This wine epitomises Australian terroir, merging the vineyard's essence and winemaker's skill into a profound expression. Notably, in 2020, Jean-Marie Fourrier of Domaine Fourrier in Gevrey-Chambertin acquired Bass Phillip, marking a significant shift.
