Tasting Notes
One of my favourite Pinot Noir from Australia and beyond. Big call. It’s beautifully complex and layered, striking a beautiful balance between dark fruits and savouriness. All the hallmarks of great wine are here - power, structure, balance. Allow it to unfurl in a decanter. Brilliant. - Chris L
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. A deeply complex wine with aromas of blackberry, dark cherry, plum pudding and wood spice. The palate is rich and very finely structured. Extremely approachable for a young wine but with plenty of potential for ageing. - Winemaker Note
William Downie is one of Australia’s most respected Pinot Noir specialists, known for his site-focused, sensitive approach to winemaking. After formative vintages in Burgundy during the 1990s and a period making wine in Gippsland, he established his own label in 2003 with a singular focus on expressing place through Pinot Noir. His philosophy is built around minimal intervention, with organic and biodynamic farming, hand harvesting, native fermentations and no fining or filtration—practices that allow terroir to guide the style of each wine.
Downie works with exceptional vineyard sites across Victoria—particularly in Gippsland, the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula—each bottling made in small quantities to highlight regional character. His wines are prized for their clarity, perfume and finely detailed structure, with a subtle power that recalls Burgundy but speaks unmistakably of Australian landscapes. Over two decades, William Downie has become a benchmark for thoughtful, terroir-driven Pinot Noir in Australia.
| Product Type | Wine Red Pinot Noir |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Victoria |
| Sub Region | Gippsland |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Minimal Intervention |