Giant Steps
Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir
Yarra Valley, Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia
See previous notes 20 weeks ago and 79 weeks ago. My last bottle of the 2016 GS Applejack Pinot Noir. The pale colour belies the strength of the palate. Quite delicious in fact. . Applejack Vineyard probably my favourite of the Giant Steps Cuvées. Red fruited - succulent savoury red cherry.
See previous notes 20 weeks ago and 79 weeks ago. My last bottle of the 2016 GS Applejack Pinot Noir. The pale colour belies the strength of the palate. Quite delicious in fact. . Applejack Vineyard probably my favourite of the Giant Steps Cuvées. Red fruited - succulent savoury red cherry.
Apr 3rd, 2024
Deep, glistening ruby-red. Ripe, mineral-accented red and blue fruits, incense, musky earth and candied flowers on the seductively perfumed nose. Sappy and alluringly sweet on the palate, offering juicy cherry, black raspberry, savory herb and vanilla flavors along with an exotic Asian spice nuance. Fine-grained and seamless in texture, delivering round, slowly building tannins and an impressively long finish that leaves kirsch and floral notes behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, September 2022)
Deep, glistening ruby-red. Ripe, mineral-accented red and blue fruits, incense, musky earth and candied flowers on the seductively perfumed nose. Sappy and alluringly sweet on the palate, offering juicy cherry, black raspberry, savory herb and vanilla flavors along with an exotic Asian spice nuance. Fine-grained and seamless in texture, delivering round, slowly building tannins and an impressively long finish that leaves kirsch and floral notes behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, September 2022)
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.
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.
Sep 25th, 2021
Always trust your senses in the game of options.
I held back from calling this out but nailed it in the end.
Glossy classic GS style.
Always trust your senses in the game of options.
I held back from calling this out but nailed it in the end.
Glossy classic GS style.
Some smoky, cherry liqueur with forest floor and whole bunch notes. Has been one of my favourite Yarra Valley Pinots for ages with good QPR. The palate is medium bodied and texturally quite mouth filling bordering on luscious. Medium minus acid. Very Giant Steps, very Applejack Vineyard. Consistent quality.
Some smoky, cherry liqueur with forest floor and whole bunch notes. Has been one of my favourite Yarra Valley Pinots for ages with good QPR. The palate is medium bodied and texturally quite mouth filling bordering on luscious. Medium minus acid. Very Giant Steps, very Applejack Vineyard. Consistent quality.
Jan 17th, 2021Black Plummy aromatics along with whole bunch aromas. On the palate fleshy with resolved Tannins and beautiful balance - everything coming together - at its peak. From one of Australia’s better and awarded winemakers in Steve Flamsteed. A wonderful Yarra Valley Pinot - my last of the 2013s from Applejack Vineyard.
Black Plummy aromatics along with whole bunch aromas. On the palate fleshy with resolved Tannins and beautiful balance - everything coming together - at its peak. From one of Australia’s better and awarded winemakers in Steve Flamsteed. A wonderful Yarra Valley Pinot - my last of the 2013s from Applejack Vineyard.
Aug 12th, 2019Travelling well at 7 years but not made for the long haul. Light to medium crimson with tawny aged rim. Savoury Cherry aromas with forest floor/compost heap. Light to medium weight but with M plus intensity and soft tannins. An excellent Australian Pinot and amazing value - I remember paying around $45.
Travelling well at 7 years but not made for the long haul. Light to medium crimson with tawny aged rim. Savoury Cherry aromas with forest floor/compost heap. Light to medium weight but with M plus intensity and soft tannins. An excellent Australian Pinot and amazing value - I remember paying around $45.
Apr 2nd, 2019Mid crimson in colour. Aromas of cherry with caramel (oak) notes. On the palate great intensity - great balance of primary red fruits and earthy notes. Amazing quality for the price of $50. Tastes like a $100 Pinot. From the excellent 2017 vintage in the Yarra. Medium acid to finish off. Of all of the individual cuvées of Giant Steps, Applejack Vineyard has always been my favourite. Most impressive. Excellent potential.
Mid crimson in colour. Aromas of cherry with caramel (oak) notes. On the palate great intensity - great balance of primary red fruits and earthy notes. Amazing quality for the price of $50. Tastes like a $100 Pinot. From the excellent 2017 vintage in the Yarra. Medium acid to finish off. Of all of the individual cuvées of Giant Steps, Applejack Vineyard has always been my favourite. Most impressive. Excellent potential.
Apr 28th, 2018
Some stalky whole bunch nettle like aromas mixed in with the cherries and plums. Oak in the background. Great QPR. Excellent Pinot Noir. Had another bottle on 16th November 2018 50 weeks after this note and 212 weeks after original note. Toffee notes on opening with some stalks. Light to medium weight. Drink last 2 bottles in next year or so.
Some stalky whole bunch nettle like aromas mixed in with the cherries and plums. Oak in the background. Great QPR. Excellent Pinot Noir. Had another bottle on 16th November 2018 50 weeks after this note and 212 weeks after original note. Toffee notes on opening with some stalks. Light to medium weight. Drink last 2 bottles in next year or so.
Nov 28th, 2017