William Downie 'Gippsland' 2024
The Wine
A blend of fruit from the Matthews vineyard in Berrys Creeks and Guendulain Farm in Yarragon (Gippsland). Matthews was planted to MV6 on red volcanic soil in 1998 and has always been dry grown. It is a cool, damp site and the vines grow dense, lush canopies. The vines at Guendulain were planted in Baw Baw Shire in 2008 at 10,000 vines per hectare, half MV6 and half Pommard clone. The wine smells of blood plum, blackberry and blackcurrant as well as violets, liquorice, cinnamon and stone fruits. The palate is long, fine and layered with bright acidity. It is a complex, savoury wine that will benefit from some time in bottle. Bill
95 Pts Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion) 'Gee, I do love Gippsland pinot noir. This is beautifully modulated with a deeper, richer fruit profile, although it's far from fruity. In youth it simply shows more primary elements. A whorl of dark cherries, pips and black plums with pomegranate molasses, sweet spices and lots of autumnal fragrance – the earth and damp leaves. Lovely tannins, fresh acidity and, while it will last some distance, lovely now.'
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."
