Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

Accolades:
94+/100 – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
96/100 – James Suckling
96/100 – Aaron Brasher, The Real Review
95/100 – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

“The 2021 Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay is a fascinating wine, and I clicked part of the way through tasting it that the Pinot Noir from the same vineyard is usually the wine that turns my dials—a realization that made this tasting all the better. Fruit is from the Applejack Vineyard, just “down the hill” from Wombat Creek Vineyard (actually about a 10-minute drive up a winding, hilly road, taking you up about 100 meters in elevation). This is taut, linear and shaped by firm yet supple phenolics that show an array of characters on the mid-palate and beyond: white miso, red apple skins, cheesecloth and musk. This, again, like the other Chardonnays, is salty and littered with preserved lemon, crushed nuts and orchard fruit. It’s a brilliant wine and one that will only get better as it ages and gathers spice momentum.“ – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Pale straw, bright and youthful in the glass. Complex and lifted aromas of grilled nuts, nougat, nectarine, green melon, wet stone and white flowers. Pinpoint and precise on the palate, really fine and focused flavours of just-ripe white peach, mineral, grapefruit pith and some nuttiness. Zesty and crunchy acidity brings cut and drive and there’s a touch of phenolics bringing savouriness and texture. Top notch Aussie chardonnay.“ – Aaron Brasher, The Real Review

“White grapefruit, pears, flint, slate and toasted almonds on the nose. So flavorful and vibrant, with sharp acidity and a creamy, compact palate. Medium to full body. Long, flinty and intense. Drink now or hold.” – James Suckling

Vintage Note: 2021 was a terrific vintage for both vineyard quality and quantity. We had a wet spring followed by a healthy amount of sunshine and some well-timed rain in January, leading to large green healthy canopies. The overall temperature during the growing season was cooler than average which led to a long slow ripening period and great concentration of flavours and natural acidity.

Winemaking Notes: 100% hand picked. Whole bunch pressed, juice transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling. Fermentation in eight 500L French puncheons. No bâtonnage. Maturation for 10 months in new and used French oak – 25% new, 75% older, Mercurey, Taransaud and D&J.

Alcohol: 12.5%

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia