Description
Giant Steps Wines is a renowned winery that was established in 1997 in the Yarra Valley.
The winery has built a reputation for producing expressive wines with purity and finesse.
The wines are a direct reflection of their individual vineyard sites, which are located across the Yarra Valley from Tarrawarra to Gladysdale.
The founder of Giant Steps Wines, Phil Sexton, is a wine industry pioneer who ventured from Margaret River to Yarra Valley in search of the ideal site to cultivate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of purity and finesse.
Phil found his holy grail near Gruyere in the Sexton vineyard, which he planted in 1997 on the steep slopes of the Warramate Ranges.
Being a mad jazz fan, Phil named the winery after John Coltrane’s album and fitting metaphor “Giant Steps.” In 2003, Winemaker Steve Flamsteed joined the team, and the two set about producing a range of iconic Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that express a profound sense of place from six finite sites in Yarra Valley.
The winery’s Head of Winemaking and Viticulture, Melanie Chester, who joined the team in 2021, is committed to honoring the expressions and diversity of its single sites.
This means keeping the winemaking tight and transparent so that the diversity of the site is what you taste.
“The wines will never look the same because the vineyards continue to change,” she explains, “but we are committed to ensuring that the quality will be the same if not better.” For more than 20 years, Giant Steps has been advancing Australia’s reputation for cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The Single vineyard range is sourced from each of the six vineyard sites around the Valley, using the most site-expressive fruit from that year’s vintage.
The winery’s loyal followers have played a significant role in the success of the winery.
Primavera Vineyard is a beautiful vineyard located in Hoddles Creek, Yarra Valley.
Lou Primavera, after discovering Yarra Valley wines 25 years ago, planted this elevated vineyard in 2001.
The vineyard is situated in Woori Yallock and has an elevation of 240 meters with a north and north-east facing aspect.
The vineyard spans across 12 hectares and is planted with Pinot clones MV6 on the north slope and 115 and G-clone on the south slope.
The Primavera family has a long-standing relationship with the vineyard, having sourced fruit from it for some years.
The Primavera Pinot is a fragrant and floral wine, reflecting the unique terroir of the vineyard.
The red clay loam soil type of the vineyard adds to the complexity of the wine, resulting in a wine that is both elegant and refined.
The north and north-east facing aspect of the vineyard means that the vines receive ample sunlight, allowing the grapes to ripen to perfection.
The elevation of the vineyard also ensures that the grapes benefit from cooler temperatures, resulting in a longer growing season and a wine with intense flavor and aroma.
Giant Steps Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 is a remarkable red wine from the Yarra Valley, Victoria.
The wine is made from hand-picked Pinot Noir grapes from the 2022 vintage, which was a terrific vintage for both vineyard quality and quantity.
The grapes were harvested with great concentration of flavors and natural tannin structure, resulting in a wine that is both elegant and refined.
On the nose, the wine has intense aromas of red fruits, floral notes and hints of spice.
On the palate, the wine is soft and sweet, with a fragrant and floral character.
The Pinot Noir grapes were sourced from the Primavera Vineyard, located in Woori Yallock, with an elevation of 230 meters and north and north-east facing slopes.
The red clay loam soil type of the vineyard adds to the complexity of the wine, resulting in a wine that is both elegant and refined.
The wine was fermented in small oak fermenters and stainless steel open vats, with the fruit sorted to create individual, clonal ferments.
The 115 was fermented as whole bunches in a seasoned oak vat, while the MV6 and G clone were fermented as whole berries with an extended cold soak.
The ferment spent around 10 – 14 days on skins, with gentle mixing throughout that time using gravity.
All parcels were matured in French oak, 20% new and 80% older, in 225L barriques and D&J, for ten months.
The wine was not moved and kept in contact with its lees before blending in December.
The wine is vegan-friendly and single-vineyard, showcasing the unique terroir of the Primavera Vineyard.
MV6 and 115 clones, planted in a cool spot at 230 meters.
The cool, wet year is obviated to an extent by a good portion of whole berries servicing sumptuous florals and oodles of red forest fruits.
Very pretty, reminiscent of a high quality cru Beaujolais.
Silky tannins.
The acidity, gentle and peppery.
The finish, svelte and joyous.
Drink now.
Preferably in large drafts, so delicious this is.
Ned Goodwin MW, Jamessuckling.com, 93 Points.
The Finer
