Bass Phillip Estate Pinot Noir 2021

Bass Phillip is one of Australia's most respected names for Pinot Noir, founded in Gippsland in the south of Victoria, a cool and damp corner of the state chosen precisely because its climate suits the grape. Pinot Noir is exacting and rewards marginal, cooler sites, where slow ripening preserves the bright acidity, delicate red fruit and floral aromatics that define it, qualities easily lost in warmer regions. The estate is farmed organically. The wine ages twelve months in French oak barrels, the traditional choice for Pinot, where slow oxygen transfer softens the naturally fine tannins and adds a subtle spice and savoury frame without masking the fruit. It is a translucent ruby. The nose shows red cherry and wild strawberry, a touch of rose and a forest floor, earthy character that develops with cool climate Pinot. The palate is light to medium bodied, silky and fresh, with fine tannins, lively acidity and a long, savoury finish. Serve lightly cool at 14 to 16 degrees, in a wide glass. It suits roast duck, game birds and mushroom dishes.