Giant Steps Chardonnay 2021
(Yarra Valley, Australia) - [FS 96] [JH 95] [WS 94] [JS 92] [WE 90]

About the Winery:
Located in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Giant Steps is recognized as a global benchmark for cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The winery was established in 1998, one year after founder Phil Sexton arrived in the Yarra Valley in search of ideal sites to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of purity and finesse. Enlisting the help of Chief Winemaker Steve Flamsteed who joined the winery in 2003, the two set to create a range of wines that personify the Yarra Valley. Today, the winery is regarded as one of the most progressive in Australia and is recognized globally for its pursuit of site expression.

About this Wine:
Sourced from vineyards across the Yarra Valley. 50% sourced from the upper Yarra ranges. The Chardonnay grapes are chilled overnight before they are whole bunch pressed the following morning. The juice is immediately transferred into 500L French oak puncheons. 15% of the oak is new, while the remaining 85% is seasoned. The juice is fermented naturally using indigenous yeast over 10 days, finishing with lots of stirring at the end of ferment. Around 10% of the batches go through malolactic fermentation. The wines are then sulphured and kept on lees in barrel until October, when they are blended and bottled.

Winemaker Notes:
2021 was a terrific vintage for both vineyard quality and quantity. The winery had a wet spring followed by a healthy amount of sunshine and some well timed rain in January, leading to large green healthy canopies. The overall temperature during the growing season was lower than average which led to a long slow ripening period and great concentration of flavors and natural acidity.

Appellation: Yarra Valley
Vineyards: Sexton, Tarraford, Applejack, Primavera and Wombat Creek Vineyards
Varietals: 100% Chardonnay
Harvested: February - March, 2021
Bottled: October, 2021
Alc/Vol (%): 12.5
TA (g/L): 6.30
pH: 3.15
Cellaring: Now – 6 years

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - Falstaff:
A vibrant burst of peach fruit aroma leaps out of the glass. That's followed by a burst of limey freshness in the mouth. Citrus and green apple shape the flavours here but there's a lovely roundness of texture that stops this wine from feeling too pinched. Some subtle spice in the background adds another layer of pleasurable intrigue.


95 Points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion:
"Whole-bunched pressed into older French puncheons. Natural fermentation and zero malolactic fermentation. A super-bright green gold. Vibrant aromas with perfectly ripened stone fruits, grapefruit pith and an attractive touch of lemongrass and ginger. Gently textured, balanced and satisfying. A class act from beginning to end." 

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Stunning, with incredible vibrancy and concentration to the orange sherbet, lemon curd and ruby grapefruit flavors at the core. Features fresh-grated ginger, lemon thyme and salted melon on the finish. Drink now." - MW (Oct 2022)

92 Points - James Suckling:
"A fleshy, textured chardonnay with aromas of apricots, honeysuckle, nutmeg, toast and persimmons. It’s medium- to full-bodied with bright acidity. Balanced, layered and very drinkable. Hints of flint at the end. Drink now. Screw cap." (Dec 2022)

90 Points – Wine Enthusiast:
“This renowned Yarra Valley producer's multi-vineyard Chardy neatly demonstrates the paradox between the variety's power and freshness Down Under. Fleshy peach, citrus and ginger are underpinned by toasty, mineral, lactic nuances. The palate walks a similar tightrope between richness and vibrancy, with length and structure amid heaps of tangy fruit and subtle oak.“ – CP (Jul 2023)