2019 GIANT STEPS YARRA VALLEY CHARDONNAY
REGION: Yarra Valley, Victoria
VARIETALS: Chardonnay
MATURATION: 8 months in French oak (10% new)
ANALYSIS: 13.0% alc/vol I TA: 7.50 I pH: 3.25
VINTAGE: 2019 saw fluctuating temperatures and rain events through spring driving a very mixed flowering in the different sub-regions. There was beautiful, moderate weather in early summer which produced rich dark green canopies, so that despite a few heat spikes in January, there were plenty of pristine bunches at harvest. Acidities were surprisingly fresh, perhaps driven by cool nights and the Chardonnay parcels have a depth and intensity not seen since 2015.
WINEMAKING: The fruit was 100% hand-picked from Giant Steps’ Sexton, Applejack, Gruyere Farm, Wombat Creek and Tarraford vineyards. The grapes were whole bunch pressed then indigenous fermentation took place in 500L French oak puncheons at 60 - 74°F. The total time in oak was seven months and there was no lees stirring. No malolactic fermentation. The wine was not filtered prior to being bottled by gravity.
TASTING NOTES: Aromas of citrus, fresh melon and crushed hazelnuts with mineral undertones. The palate is long, elegant and broad with a beautiful creaminess from the extended aging on its lees. A backbone of crisp and punchy acidity carries flavors of stone fruits, citrus and shortbread through a persistent finish.
ABOUT GREAT STEPS: Established in 1998, Giant Steps is owned by Phil Sexton and takes its name from John Coltrane’s eponymous first solo jazz album. Giant Steps’ fruit is biodynamically farmed and vinified with minimal intervention in its gravity flow winery. The Yarra Valley range is highly expressive, true to the climate, soil and topography of this region. The Single Vineyard range is crafted from the most site-expressive fruit off the best vineyards in great years. Giant Steps has forged a reputation for delivering some of Australia’s most consistent, over-performing, varietal wines reflected by its ongoing, enviable global acclaim including Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wineries of the Year, 2013-2018.
