2014 Giant Steps "Sexton Vineyard" Chardonnay Yarra Valley Victoria

Professional Reviews

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RW

Ryan Woodhouse

Ryan Woodhouse

I have long been a fan of the Giant Steps wines but this 2014 Sexton Vineyard Chard might be the best yet I have seen from them. It combines the typical flinty mineral tones I expect from the wine but also seems to have an extra textural element and concentration to the fruit. There is a real drive and persistence to the wine's flavors of golden tree fruits, baked pear, toasted barley, tangerine peel and wet stone minerals. Fluid and assertive on the palate with real presence and verve; it goes on and on. Seriously good stuff.

Notes

Winemaker's Notes: "The nose offers aromas of grapefruit, dried apple, blanched almonds and struck flint mineral notes. The palate is long and lush with beautiful creaminess. Alongside a backbone of crisp and punchy acidity are notes of Granny Smith apple skins, stonefruits, citrus and shortbread. A luscious and complex wine from an excellent, low yeilding vintage. Natural winemaking philosophy, while making quality the priority. Minimal intervention in the vineyard. 100% hand-picked fruit. 100% indigenous wild yeast fermentation in 500L French puncheons 20% new and 80% older. Batonage for the first two months. No malolactic fermentation. 11 months in new and used French puncheons. No filtration at bottling. 430 cases total production." 94 points Wine Front: "Overt oak but not overwhelming - nougat, halva-sweet-nuttiness, raw tobacco scents coupled to mixed citrus peel and bruised apple scents. Still, holds a lofty, bright, vibrant perfume. Clatters across the palate with delicate acidity and a sheath of subtle, vanillin oak character. The freshness and friskiness of the fruit character is notable, it skips and twists through the mouth with a lacy, frisky feel, almost gossamer in texture and finishes mouthwatering and refreshing, fruit pure and crisp. Almost like you need to concentrate. Flighty and delicious for it."