William Downie 'Gippsland' 2023
The Wine
A blend of fruit from the Matthews vineyard in Berrys Creeks and Manilla in Neerim South (Gippsland). Matthews was planted 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 Manilla were planted to MV6 in 1983. The red volcanic soils face very slightly to the south and look in the direction of the Tarago reservoir. The wine smells of roasted peaches, iron stone and thyme. The palate is soft, round and textured.
The Details
Variety - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Victoria
Sub Region - Gippsland
Extra - Cork
Year - 2023
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."
