The iconic Bass Phillip gate post

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When wine maker Phillip Jones founded Bass Phillip he merged the names of two iconic Australian explorers. On May 9, 2020 a press release announced a new partnership between Phillip Jones and Jean-Marie Fourrier, owner of Domaine Fourrier in Burgundy’s Gevery Chambertin. Fourrier will be the ongoing Chief Winemaker of Bass Phillip, which he and associates now own.

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Jean-Marie and Phillip share a common approach to wine production, inspired by the great Henri Jayer from Vosne Romanee. It starts with the belief that making great wines begins in the vineyard and what follows is fastidiousness about naturally maintaining healthy, well nurtured vines and strict and extremely natural winemaking techniques. They first met twelve years ago in South Gippsland and the continuation of this approach will ensure Phillip’s original touch will stay embedded in the ongoing development of Bass Phillip’s unique wines of texture and complexity. Bass Phillip will also benefit from the combined experiences and skill sets of two truly exceptional world class winemakers and specialists of the Pinot Noir grape.

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Jean-Marie Fourrier at the age of 23 years took over his family’s 10 hectare property from his father in the mid 1990’s. Ever since he took over the winemaking, the Fourrier name has garnered international acclaim.  Buyers of Fourrier will bear witness to the legacy of one of Burgundy’s finest. His seminal experiences were gained whilst working with the legendary Henri Jayer in Vosne-Romanee.  Jean-Marie was involved in the making of the classic 1988 vintage at Chez Jayer and his winemaking has followed Jayer’s practices ever since. This results in wines with the inimitable Fourrier style – bright colors with pure red fruit on the nose, and the shape of the wine following the vineyard and its characteristics, reflecting such differences as slope, exposure and the amount of topsoil overlying the ancient limestone, superb poise, enchanting elegance and rich in complexity. That is Fourrier.

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That is also Bass Phillip. So it is indeed an exciting time ahead as Bass Phillip accelerates its international growth.