Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Crafted from up to 100 individual small lots, deep Ruby color with aromas of red berry fruit and sweet spices. On the palate ripe black cherry and blackberry flavors, with some dried fruit notes, toasty oak, cinnamon spice and cola tones. Fine mouth coating tannins with balanced acidity carry this rich wine to a long finish. Nice! — 10 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Tawny mid crimson in colour. Aromas of menthol, tobacco, a little anise and new leather. Just medium weight with savoury red cherry and those aromatics coming through into the palate. Not as rich as I was expecting from a Rabaja Riserva which is generally considered one of the better individual Cuvées from the Produttori. Reminds one of how different Barbaresco is to Barolo. Hours later the menthol and tarry notes were persistent. Very good but not memorable. — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

After the recent straight entry level Giant Steps Pinot from 2017 which was fruit driven and quite delicious this is one of their individual paddock wines - Applejack which is made in a different style with whole bunch ferment to the fore. Notes of anise and white pepper to the red fruited nose and palate. Hint of clove. Oak is resolved to my palate. Impressive and showing Steve Flamsteed’s ability as a winemaker. Postscript: Jackson Family Wines from the USA has acquired Giant Steps as of a year ago I believe. I would expect Giant Steps to be more readily available in the US now. — 3 years ago

Richard Portes

9.2

17.5 so individual, Cotat. Nothing like these wines. A very rich sauvignon? Long. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

See previous note in August 2022. Vines planted in 1961 in the Eden Valley. A fuller riper style than the usual Pewsey Vale - still finishing dry. Aromatics of Lemon and Lime. The terroir and the quality of the fruit showing through. Not a hint of TDN (Kerosene/Petrol) showing through. Could cellar for another 3 to 4 years if desired up to its 10th birthday. — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

The most robust of the Individual Vineyard Chardonnay releases. Bought at the Cellar Door around 6 years ago. Such intensity on the palate. White peach, ripe grapefruit, smoky and mealy. The label on the bottle says “One of our very best vintages”. An excellent Chardonnay by any measure. Showing the strength of the Mornington Peninsula for the Burgundian varieties. Had another bottle 24 weeks later on 11th July 2023 with consistent notes. Funky smoky mealy notes with the winemaker showing his skills in a good vintage. Medium to full bodied of great intensity. Certainly an excellent new World Chardonnay. Still at 95 points. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Pale Ruby in colour. Strawberry and Raspberry aromatics. The palate is very red fruit driven with strawberry and raspberry - quite delicious. I may be wrong but little evidence of whole bunch in the ferment. Oak is hardly detectable. Great value at $35AUD and should be an annual buy on top of the Individual Paddock Pinot Noirs which I buy regularly. Having a 2015 Applejack Pinot tonight. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

A week ago I posted a tasting note on the 2018 Giant Steps Nocton Vineyard Pinot Noir that had won 3 Trophies at the 2019 Royal Queensland Wine Show. This Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Pinot repeated the 3 Trophy win at this year’s Royal Queensland Wine Show a month ago. Pale Ruby in colour - lovely aromatics - red fruited, rose petals. Wonderful palate intensity. Barely medium bodied. I wonder how this will cellar? It is so good now you wonder how much better it can get. I have been a long time admirer of Giant Steps and winemaker Steve Flamsteed who I knew from Toowoomba but what is disappointing is how the price has doubled under the new ownership. I used to pay $45 to $50 for the individual Cuvées and now a little over $90! — 8 months ago

sm

9.2

Shiraz at home for Christmas week — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Aromas of ripe plum and black cherry together with earth lavender and thyme. Love the garrigue perfume - I could smell this for hours. Medium weight palate - very savoury with same notes coming through with fine grained tannins. A certain bitter note to the tannins which was not unwelcome. Polished rusticity - if that makes sense. Of the 3 individual Cuvées I agree that Cabassaou might be (marginally) considered the best. I must seek out more of these Tempier Cuvées and bury them in the cellar for a decade. — 2 years ago