Bob McDonald

9.3

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. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

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. — 9 months ago

John Tan

9.2

Bellyhappychef. Native varietal from northern Italy. Skin contact. Honey. Pear. — 3 years ago

Andy Thomson

9.0

Fruity, good acid. Cold climate at its best — 5 months ago

with Cheryl

Meghan C

9.1

Purchased whole visiting the Sonoma tasting room in Aug 2023. Enjoyed last night 5/27/24. — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid Ruby red with a lighter rim. Red fruits - cherry and strawberry - some bunchy, Sous Bois notes - not dissimilar to the William Downie last night. Another East Gippsland Pinot (“when in Rome, do as the Romans”). Young but from a good vintage with much promise - more development in the pipeline. A light to medium weight sappy palate with good Gippsland terroir coming through. — a year ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Fourrier x Australia — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Catching up on wines we have had since returning from the Henschke weekend. Brief notes. A seashell note in amongst the stone fruit (peach and nectarine) honeysuckle and warm stone. A layered highly textural wine. Very good and what you would expect from Bass Phillip. The first of 3. Next in a year or two. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Delectable- this is the Estate Chardonnay not the cheaper Gippsland Cuvée. Restrained initially (more Chablis than White Burgundy) but with air it filled out to be more peachy than citrus. Drinking well at 6 years with another 2 plus years in the tank if desired. This shows that Phillip Jones’s expertise with Pinot extends to Chardonnay. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Petite Verdot, deep Ruby color, with aromas of black fruits, spice and cedar notes, aged for 16 months in American and French oak. On the palate flavors of blackberry, black cherry, licorice, cedar and spice. Medium+ finish, fine tannins, ending with fruit, oak, spice and slight earthy tobacco notes. — a year ago