Pinotman /// Andreas

9.5

97P WS, Whopping 15.5%. At the edge of where natural yeast dies. May be they used designer yeast? Anyways this is actually pretty good. Enormously complex with a bazillion interesting flavors including Eucalyptus. Picked this up for a tasting (I am hosting) it will be a mega hit. Folks will love this in your face flavor hammer. Isn’t it nice what a classicist is doing for his friends? — 5 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. — 5 years ago

guy hedley

9.8

Rich currant notes with chocolate and earth tones. A remarkable wine. 2015 vintage — 6 years ago

Kimberly Miller

8.9

Black fruit, black pepper, bold earthy finish — 7 years ago

with Rick

Keith Newton

9.8

After 10 years this is absolutely fabulous. Throw the French or English kings of cheese at it, and it will match them nobly — 8 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.2

I done learned sumptin tonight. Pyrenees in Australia. — 8 years ago

with Mark

Chris Fransham

8.9

Alex: Süffig.
Don’t remember this being particularly memorable, but easy drinking. Would drink again. Drank it in Pond Paddock vineyard. — 8 years ago

Andre Johnson

9.2

Great!! Pair with pork tenderloin — 3 years ago

Toby Neal

9.1

2018 vintage, $12.99 from Aldi — 4 years 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. — 5 years ago

David Thai

10

Really crisp and refreshing. Perfect for summer! — 6 years ago

Mark Loudon

9.0

More than just and acceptable midweek sipper. Not the world's greatest but enjoyable with a generally soft finish — 7 years ago

Joe Lundy

9.0

Well balanced Chardonnay with very little oak at all. — 8 years ago

with Isabel and Robert

Keith Crump

9.2

2010 an excellent wine great depth without ott new world carry on drinking well — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Delectable - this is the Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir. Couldn’t see it in your options. Notes of red cherry with bunchy stalky notes. Root vegetables with fresh tilled loam. Still a lovely red fruited sweetness shining through the savoury bunchy notes on the palate. Of all of the Individual Paddock Pinots from Giant Steps, Applejack Vineyard is my favourite. — 4 years ago

Christopher Severo

9.0

Paddock excellent smooth cab — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Dense dark crimson, almost black in colour - opaque. Lots to unfurl on the nose with initial aromas of Tar, Black pepper, plum, black and blue fruits, dark chocolate and a herbal nuance. Densely packed and full bodied. Obviously the product of old vines. The vineyard was planted over a hundred years ago in 1920. One of those unique wines that has the ability to be full bodied and elegant at the same time. Never heavy, you could drink this all night. Still has latent energy at 16 years of age. An aristocratic Shiraz in company with the world’s finest. Jay Miller had an erudite comment when he said that the only competition for this wine comes from the likes of Guigal, Chapoutier, Chave, Krankl, and Ringland. I would be patriotic in addition to Chris Ringland, and include Peter Gago and Fraser McKinlay. Roman Bratasiuk is the winemaker of Astralis- which is made from a 4 hectare paddock in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Mid crimson in colour. Tarry savoury berry aromas. On the palate medium to full bodied with earth tar and liquorice ~ typical of mature Heathcote. Tannins resolved. The 15.5%ABV largely hidden. Amazing intensity and flavour considering its age - powerful in fact - also some sweetness. Jasper Hill largely contributed to putting Heathcote on the map. — 7 years ago

guy hedley

9.5

Stunning complexity for a Yarra chardonnay..this wine ranks better in comparison to a premier cru burgundy than a new world chardonnay . Exceptional — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

The Entry Level Chardonnay from Giant Steps in a very good vintage in the Yarra Valley. Smoky notes with some struck match. Oak comes through on the palate more than the bouquet with butterscotch flavours but not overdone. M minus acid with M Intensity. Drink up to 5 years. The individual paddock Chardonnays will be something special on this showing. Had another 22 weeks later with consistent notes. Good intensity for an entry level Chardonnay. — 8 years ago