2023 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

98 points Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
#2 Pinot Noir in Australia 2026 Halliday Awards 
There have been many great vintages of the Reserve but I can’t remember one having such clarity and precision, matched to a brightness of fruit. So, for me, the finest to date. What’s also pleasing is the clear delineation from the estate up to this, the flagship. It commands your attention yet it’s also welcoming and open knit. There’s a lot to unpack yet the package is complete; very spicy, with florals and sweet fruit, cedar, menthol, black cherries and kirsch. It ebbs and flows with aromas and flavours and filagree tannins (lots of them) with fine acidity all slinking across the fuller-bodied palate. There’s a suppleness that off-sets its latent power. Wow, what a wine! Unequivocally the benchmark.

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.