BASS PHILLIP - BIN 17K Pinot Noir 2019

Upon opening the 2019 17K reveals primary red fruits and after half an hour or so, the nose becomes much more resolved and interesting, showing its pedigree with bright dark cherries and blood plums along with raspberry notes.

A warmer and drier than average growing season with just 303 mm falling over the growing season and higher than usual growing degree day index of 1571°C, leading to an earlier than usual harvest and fuller bodied wines.

Harvest started on the Leongatha vineyard with the Chardonnay on the 14th March at 13.9 Baume, followed by Pinot Noir between the 15-22nd March with an average ripeness of 14.1 Baume. Chardonnay from our older vineyard was harvested on the 25th March and Pinot was picked over the 28th-30th March with an average ripeness of 14.5 Baume. Average yields across the varieties was 5.5 tonne/hectare.

For the 17K, the bunches are carefully sorted in the vineyard before the bunches are de-stemmed and the must conveyed directly to open fermenters with 40ppm SO2. A natural ferment starts usually within 4 days when a rigorous plunging programme commences till the ferment approaches completion.

Between 10-14 days from harvest, the wine is drained, the skins pressed gently and combined with the free run wine which is settled for a week or so before racking to barrel using gravity. Malo Lactic occurs in barrel and once complete the wine has 50 ppm SO2 and topped and checked regularly.

Wine stays in barrel for 15 months, when it is gravity decanted off lees from a spigot at the bottom of the barrel to tank. No fining of any sort, or filtration before bottling in July 2020.  

Made in a simple and traditional manner, with low-cropped vineyards, no irrigation and minimal intervention in the winery,  the wines of BASS PHILLIP display flavours which are characteristic of the region and their individual vineyards.

Deep mineral-rich soils, natural high humidity, and cooler temperatures in South Gippsland is also part of the magic that delivers the length, complexity, flavours, balanced acidity, and natural minerality to BASS PHILLIP wines.

Combined with Phillip Jones’s undivided attention to detail in the vineyards  and winery, and an insatiable passion for quality wine experiences, BASS PHILLIP  produces extraordinary wines one vintage after another.