1998 Pinot Noir Premium
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Tasting notes
Make no mistake about it ... this a brilliant Pinot Noir, undoubtedly one of the finest being produced in Australia. Unfined and unfiltered, it is already throwing a hefty film of sediment because of its natural winemaking. Cote de Nuits-like characteristics are evident in the gorgeously sweet, plum, berry, and cherry fruit flavors infused with cinnamon and allspice. The wine is are full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, with superb purity, creamy, big, thick, Burgundian-like texture (that has not been foolishly acidified), and a long, concentrated finish. Extremely complex, and more forward and evolved than most Burgundies are at a similar age, this a beautifully made wine. This is a brilliant effort. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. Importer: Old Bridge Cellars (Rob McDonald), Napa, CA; tel. (707) 258-9552
Critic scores
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Make no mistake about it ... this a brilliant Pinot Noir, undoubtedly one of the finest being produced in Australia. Unfined and unfiltered, it is already throwing a hefty film of sediment because of its natural winemaking. Cote de Nuits-like characteristics are evident in the gorgeously sweet, plum, berry, and cherry fruit flavors infused with cinnamon and allspice. The wine is are full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, with superb purity, creamy, big, thick, Burgundian-like texture (that has not been foolishly acidified), and a long, concentrated finish. Extremely complex, and more forward and evolved than most Burgundies are at a similar age, this a beautifully made wine. This is a brilliant effort. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. Wine Advocate.June, 2001
Dullish medium red. Aromas of plum, smoke, roasted nuts, milk chocolate, lead pencil and underbrush. Mellow and plummy in the mouth, with a very smooth texture despite its pungent minerality. Not exactly intense but offers good concentration and burnished tannins. Finishes with a hint of woodsmoke and a faint edge of acidity. Comes across as noticeably fresher than the regular '98 pinot noir release. Also tasted: 1998 Pinot Noir Gippsland.
About the producer
Bass Phillip has been quietly making world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Leongatha, South Gippsland, since the 1990s. The estate’s wines were long sold almost exclusively in Australia, meaning that the producer remains relatively little-known beyond its native shores.