William Downie, Bull Swamp 2023

William Downie is a reference for minimal intervention, site specific Pinot Noir in Australia. He's always focused on the grape, having spent several harvests in Burgundy early in his career. In 2003 he started his own label, sourcing and making Pinot from the Yarra Valley, Gippsland, and the Mornington Peninsula. He now focusses on the lesser-known Gippsland region, where he has a farm which he runs with his wife, Rachel. Bull Swamp is his flagship wine and his 2023 vintage is proving to be one of his best ever. Grapes for this wine come from a single dry grown vineyard planted in 1981 on old, red volcanic soils at 150m elevation. The grapes were hand-harvested and aged in 10% new French oak for 10 months prior to bottling. Earthy and dense on the nose, with blackcurrant, blueberry and black cherry. Berry fruits on the palate, with struck match, meatiness and sweet woody spice with strong tannins. Drinking well now, but will age gloriously over the next 10 years.