Every now and again we come across a love story that touches our hearts in more ways than one. A love that grows stronger with every passing season. Complex and audacious with a burst of sweetness, fresh and flirty with just the right amount of spice.
Sometimes a great love story requires more risk, more commitment and greater finesse than others. Ours is a story of adventurous spirit that starts in the vineyard and breaks the heart of many growers. A refined and prestigious spirit created with a lightness of touch and by taking great care
What is unique about Heartbreak Pinot Noir Gin?
This is our 2023 Limited Release Heartbreak Pinot Noir Gin. Yes it’s back! The long-awaited release you’ve been waiting for…fresh on the heels of a perfectly long and cool ripening season for maximum fruit ripeness, it’s our best yet! Bass & Flinders Heartbreak Gin is for lovers of pinot noir and gin alike. A re-imagining of everything Pinot Noir can be, pushing both Pinot Noir and Gin outside their individual spheres, creating a new space where the culmination is greater than the individual components…completing a love triangle between oenology, gastronomy and mixology.
The Heartbreak Gin Distillation Process
Heartbreak Gin’s natural sweetness is derived from ground-breaking winemaking fortification techniques. First the 2023 grapes were left untouched to allow for a wild ferment, unlocking new flavours and aromas of ‘pinosity’ due to this vinification method. The small parcel of fruit was then delicately hand pressed to extract the bright ruby red juice – the signature colour palette of this vintage, then fortified with a carefully crafted gin distilled using a combination of both classic and native Australian botanicals, selected to truly reflect the unique aromas and flavours associated with Pinot Noir grown on the Mornington Peninsula.
The resulting Heartbreak Gin is expertly balanced with classic juniper forward notes and floral undertones, with bright red fruits that sing particularly bright from the 2023 vintage. Raspberry, strawberry and Pepperberry seamlessly meld the pinot noir ferment into the gin world. Botanical highlights of cacao, sage and strawberry gum round out the palate and accentuate the bright raspberry and lavender notes traditionally affiliated with Mornington Peninsula region pinot noir.
2023 Heartbreak Pinot Noir Gin Tasting Notes
Colour: bright ruby red
Aroma: Complex and perfumed with notes of sweet red fruit, spice and floral highlights.
Palate: Sweet spice sweeps through the palate opening up into bright, fresh pinot noir fruits finishing pleasantly textural and savoury with juniper, herbal and oak nuances. The 2023 pinot noir fruit harvest shows lifted red and pink fruit characters of strawberry, rosehip and raspberries which are enriched and enlivened by cacao, oak, lavender and sage for a more fruity, floral and fresh take on the 2023 harvest.
Why is Pinot Noir known as the Heartbreak grape?
Crafted with meticulous detail, the Heartbreak Pinot Noir 2023 Limited Edition Gin from Bass & Flinders Distillery has a story as captivating as its flavour. Elegant and sleek Pinot Noir is a femme fatale, climatically grown on the fringe where of where quality grape growing should be possible. Where Perfection and Ruin compete in the marathon to harvest with Mother Nature playing both the Antagonist and the Hero. Growers face constant uphill battles every season grappling with too much sun, not enough heat forever racing the change of seasons for phenolic and sugar ripeness before the leaves fall off or worse, all is lost to bunch rot or rain and hail.
But that's only half the story…once in the winery Pinot Noir is the most honest of all wines. Finesse and grace are its strengths leaving zero tolerance for mistakes allowing them to be laid bare for all to see. Examining a glass of Pinot Noir is like examining the region, the terroir, the grower and the maker all at once. Only those that truly understand the varietal, are able to be proactive, not reactive and consistently produce excellence. But even the best can be left pulling at their hair or shouting their joy one moment to the next.
This is why Pinot Noir is known as the Heartbreak grape.
Bass & Flinders Distillery's unique Méthode Eau de Vie distillation process
It was a natural progression for Bass & Flinders Distillery from producing grape-based spirits to fortifying Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir to create Heartbreak Gin. Our grape-based spirits are handcrafted from scratch using our ‘Méthode Eau de Vie’ - the art of distilling wine into pure, full-flavoured spirit, crafting our premium spirits from scratch to deliver a smoother, richer flavour across our entire range of uniquely Australian artisanal gins, brandies and liqueurs. This is our true dedication to craft and quality.
We believe quality starts with the grape, so we work closely with our winemaker to specify sugar levels, pH, acidity and ripeness of fruit which all affect the final flavour profile. All of these elements, at the right levels, work in harmony to produce the perfect wine we seek for distilling our eau de vie grape-based spirit. We balance our approach from vintage to vintage in harmony with Mother Nature and the vineyard’s unique microclimate and soil - the ‘terroir’- to guarantee premium grape quality, resulting in our premium eau de vie spirit that reflects the unique flavours and aromas of its source.
In our quest for traceability in the industry, all of our spirits have been distilled from local Victorian wine. Our batch-distilled Méthode Eau de Vie spirit showcases the rich, creamy, ripe aromas expressive of the terroir where the grapes are grown, creating additional layers of flavour, texture and viscosity in all of our spirits.
Serving Suggestions: Heartbreak Gin Cocktails
The Heartbreak Pinot Noir Gin 2023 Vintage pairs exceptionally well with a variety of flavours and culinary delights. Its complex yet balanced aromas and flavours makes it a versatile spirit that can be enjoyed in many ways. Savour it neat over ice to fully appreciate its intricate flavours. Alternatively, it shines in a range of gin-based cocktails, such as a Negroni Noir, a twist on the classic Clover Club cocktail or in a gin and tonic Heartbreaker G&T with Mediterranean tonic water.
Garnish with fresh raspberries and orange, or sage and rose.
Serving Suggestions: Heartbreak Gin & Food pairings
When it comes to food pairings, this gin's delicate red fruit notes and gentle tannins make it an ideal companion for dishes like grilled seafood, charcuterie, and creamy cheeses. It beautifully complements the flavours of strawberries, raspberries, and citrus-infused desserts, adding an extra layer of sophistication to your dining experience.
Pair with traditional pinot noir dishes such as butterflied lamb or crispy skin duck breast. Roast lamb, grilled quail and pulled pork are an unbeatable combination with the savoury notes in Heartbreak Gin. Or complement the spice perfectly with crispy duck pancakes, seared tuna, slow roasted beetroot and goats cheese salad, wild mushrooms and root vegetables.
Visit us at our Distillery Door on the Mornington Peninsula
The start of your very own love story is just around the corner. Our 2023 Limited Edition release of Heartbreak Pinot Noir Gin is available now! Come down and visit us in our home here on the Mornington Peninsula, only 1 hrs drive from the heart of Melbourne. We’ll be turning Distillery Door red, celebrating the month of Heartbreak with beautifully crafted cocktails paired with every girl’s gift to a break-up (chocolate) and all Gin High Tea’s will include a complementary Heartbreak tasting on arrival. Come on down and join in the celebrations - sip on a fresh & flirty G&T while nibbling on our famous local grazing platters or other tasty eats, choose your favourite gin paddle and ease your heartache.
The Bass & Flinders 2023 Limited release Heartbreak Pinot Noir Gin. A uniquely Australian artisanal spirit where craftsmanship meets artistry. With its captivating flavour profile, unique distillation process and versatility, this gin is an ode to the dedication and passion to creating some of the worlds best gin.
Bass & Flinders Heartbreak Pinot Noir 2023 Limited Edition Gin. It’s not our first crush but it might be yours…
