97 Points James Halliday — Australia's Most Revered Pinot Noir, Vintage 2023

My Wine Man on Bass Phillip

Bass Phillip is the undisputed benchmark for Pinot Noir in Australia. Founded by Phillip Jones in the cool, maritime hills of South Gippsland in the 1970s, the estate has spent decades quietly producing wines that rival the great Burgundies of the Côte de Nuits. Now under the stewardship of Jean-Marie Fourrier — one of Gevrey-Chambertin's most celebrated winemakers — Bass Phillip has entered a new and thrilling chapter. The Old Vines are the heart of the estate: low-yielding, deeply rooted vines that produce fruit of extraordinary concentration and complexity. Production is minuscule, demand is global, and bottles are among the most coveted in the Australian fine wine market. This is as good as Australian Pinot Noir gets.

Tasting Notes

Translucent ruby with a luminous, garnet-tinged rim. The nose is hauntingly beautiful — wild strawberry, red cherry, and dried rose petal are interwoven with forest floor, damp earth, and a whisper of spice. On the palate, the wine is silky and precise, with gossamer tannins and a core of red and dark fruit that unfolds with remarkable elegance. The finish is long, mineral, and deeply Burgundian in character — a wine that lingers in the memory long after the glass is empty. 97 Points — James Halliday

Style & Drinking Window

Medium-bodied with fine, silky tannins and bright natural acidity. Approachable now with 1–2 hours of decanting, but will reward cellaring through to 2033–2038+. A wine of genuine Burgundian finesse that will evolve beautifully with time.

Food Pairing

The silky texture and red fruit elegance of the 2023 Bass Phillip Estate Old Vines Pinot Noir make it a sublime match for Lilydale Free-Range Whole Chicken from My Meat Man. The wine's bright acidity and fine tannins complement the delicate, savoury character of free-range chicken beautifully — whether roasted whole with thyme and butter, spatchcocked over charcoal, or slow-cooked as a coq au vin with mushrooms and lardons. Also outstanding alongside salmon with a pinot-friendly herb crust, or a selection of soft cheese such as brie or camembert.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

Bass Phillip Old Vines is one of the most allocation-restricted wines in Australia — most bottles never leave the mailing list. At HK$699, this 97-point Gippsland Pinot Noir is exceptional value for a wine of this pedigree and international standing. Comparable single-vineyard Australian Pinot Noir of this quality regularly commands HK$1,000–1,500+ at retail and auction. A rare opportunity to own a piece of Australian wine history.

Looking for a Different Style?

- 2018 Garagiste Le Stagiaire Pinot Noir — a soulful, terroir-driven Mornington Peninsula Pinot of great purity
- 2021 Stonier Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir — a classic, approachable Mornington Pinot with lovely red fruit and finesse
- 2022 Farrside by Farr Pinot Noir — a benchmark Geelong Pinot of depth, structure, and Burgundian character

Life's too short for bad wine.