William Downie 'Bull Swamp' (Gippsland) 2024
The Wine
This dry grown vineyard was planted in 1981 on old, red volcanic soils at 150m elevation. There are four separate parcels of Pinot Noir, two north facing blocks of MV6 and another of Abel, as well as a more sheltered south facing block of MV6. The wine smells of ripe dark fruits including blueberry, blackberry and blackcurrant as well poached autumnal fruits - quince, medlar and pear. The palate is rich and weighty with rose hip, mace and black pepper. It is full and plush with fine tannin and terracotta like baked red earth. Bill
96 Pts Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion) 'What a wine. Everything has come together harmoniously – the enticing aromas all spicy, floral and earthy, the flavours all juicy cherries and exotic spices with blood orange acidity. The tannins are beautiful, shapely and supple yet oh-so fine and the acid just teases out the finish to linger long. Lovely drink here folks. Alas, will sell out in a flash – be quick.'
The Details
Variety - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Victoria
Sub Region - Gippsland
Extra - Cork
Year - 2024
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
William Downie stands as a benchmark for minimal intervention, site-specific Pinot Noir in Australia. His focus has always been on the grape, evidenced by his time spent in Burgundy at Domaines Fourrier and Hubert Lignier, followed by roles at Bass Phillip in Gippsland and De Bortoli. In 2003, he launched his own label, producing Pinot from the Yarra Valley, Gippsland, and the Mornington Peninsula.
Currently, his attention is on the lesser-known Gippsland region, where he and his wife Rachel manage a farm and oversee additional vineyards in the area. His winemaking philosophy is one of low intervention. Unlike some Aussie winemakers, William is not dogmatic; he diligently monitors hygiene, temperature, and pH levels to ensure his wines are pristine, using sulphur as necessary. His goal is to represent his terroir faithfully. William believes, "The intrigue of Australian Pinot Noir lies in its ancient soils.
"The vines have a significant, age-old tale to convey—a story that's vast, subtle, and nuanced. Extracting this story requires a gentle and delicate touch."
