Giant Steps
Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir
Yarra Valley, Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia
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!
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!
Aug 10th, 2023Fresh red fruits. Medium minus body. A good balance between the red cherries and the stalkiness from whole bunch influence. Soft supple yet persistent tannins. Very Yarra Valley, very Giant Steps - now owned by Jackson Family Wines of California, but this vintage would have been made by Steve Flamsteed who established the reputation of Giant Steps. An excellent wine with a big future. First of 6.
Fresh red fruits. Medium minus body. A good balance between the red cherries and the stalkiness from whole bunch influence. Soft supple yet persistent tannins. Very Yarra Valley, very Giant Steps - now owned by Jackson Family Wines of California, but this vintage would have been made by Steve Flamsteed who established the reputation of Giant Steps. An excellent wine with a big future. First of 6.
Apr 29th, 2023Light to mid Ruby in colour. Aromatics of red fruits and light caramel notes from the oak. Red fruits of cherries and a little raspberry together with sappiness. Medium tannins. A technically well made Pinot and good for the $45 price but in summary unexciting. Tried another bottle 83 weeks later on 16th December 2021 with much the same impressions. Well made but not exciting. Of all of Giant Steps individual Cuvées I think the Applejack Pinots are the best. The 2020 of that Cuvée was just awarded 98 points from James Halliday. Lucky to source 4 bottles.
Light to mid Ruby in colour. Aromatics of red fruits and light caramel notes from the oak. Red fruits of cherries and a little raspberry together with sappiness. Medium tannins. A technically well made Pinot and good for the $45 price but in summary unexciting. Tried another bottle 83 weeks later on 16th December 2021 with much the same impressions. Well made but not exciting. Of all of Giant Steps individual Cuvées I think the Applejack Pinots are the best. The 2020 of that Cuvée was just awarded 98 points from James Halliday. Lucky to source 4 bottles.
May 9th, 2020Light to mid crimson - very Burgundian in colour. Aromatic forest floor with stalky notes - evidence of whole bunch in the ferment. More red fruits on the palate than you would think from the savoury nose. All coming together at 5 nearly 6 years of age. Beautifully balanced and at its peak. Tasting more like a $100 Pinot rather than the $45 which I paid. A thoroughly delicious Yarra Valley Pinot Noir.
Light to mid crimson - very Burgundian in colour. Aromatic forest floor with stalky notes - evidence of whole bunch in the ferment. More red fruits on the palate than you would think from the savoury nose. All coming together at 5 nearly 6 years of age. Beautifully balanced and at its peak. Tasting more like a $100 Pinot rather than the $45 which I paid. A thoroughly delicious Yarra Valley Pinot Noir.
Nov 13th, 2019Normally would not try such a young quality Pinot Noir but wanted to see why all the hype on the Giant Steps individual block Pinots from 2015. This bottle lives up to it. Showing lovely aromatics of cherry and hint of raspberry. Whole bunch stemmy characteristics. Complex and long , evolving with aeration. Great vintage in the Yarra. Cellar for 5 to 10 years.
Normally would not try such a young quality Pinot Noir but wanted to see why all the hype on the Giant Steps individual block Pinots from 2015. This bottle lives up to it. Showing lovely aromatics of cherry and hint of raspberry. Whole bunch stemmy characteristics. Complex and long , evolving with aeration. Great vintage in the Yarra. Cellar for 5 to 10 years.
Dec 18th, 2016
Little more stewed fruit profile, brown spices, red cherry and stemmy.
Little more stewed fruit profile, brown spices, red cherry and stemmy.
Sep 8th, 2016
Cherry and spice, very fresh and fragrant with subtle woody herbs. Beautifully fruit driven with absolute clarity and lovely earthy undertones. Bloody good.
Cherry and spice, very fresh and fragrant with subtle woody herbs. Beautifully fruit driven with absolute clarity and lovely earthy undertones. Bloody good.
May 13th, 2015
Savory and fresh. Perfect with carrot tagliatelle
Savory and fresh. Perfect with carrot tagliatelle
Apr 24th, 2015Fragant and friendly new world wine, with an exotic touch - 10% whole bunches, remainder destemmed, not crushed (the same for all four wines); five-day cold soak, 12-day ferment with minimal plunging 24% new French oak, 25% one-year old; like all four wines, 11 months in oak.
Fragant and friendly new world wine, with an exotic touch - 10% whole bunches, remainder destemmed, not crushed (the same for all four wines); five-day cold soak, 12-day ferment with minimal plunging 24% new French oak, 25% one-year old; like all four wines, 11 months in oak.
Dec 16th, 2014