Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
$115.00 inc. GST
Accolades:
97/100 – James Halliday Wine Companion
97/100 – Stuart Knox, The Real Review
95/100 – Huon Hooke, The Real Review
95/100 – Wine Enthusiast
94/100 – James Suckling
94/100 – Decanter
“Planted on a cool, south-facing slope in Tarrawarra. Whole-bunch pressed and barrel fermented in seasoned French puncheons and one ceramic egg. A vibrant green gold. Immediately appealing with its aromas of stone fruits, yellow apple, some lemon confiture and a touch of brine. Chalky textured, slippery and with a certain openness but finely detailed and structured too. Grapefruit pithy on the long, beautifully balanced finish.” – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
“Light straw hue. A seductive nose of white peaches, flinty reduction and a lift of creamy nougat. Driven and coiled across the tongue, a full throttle line of intense stone fruit bound up by racing acidity that accentuates a flinty mineral note. As it flows the tension loosens and a deeper toffee note builds, all running incredibly long to the creamy and fanning finish.” – Stuart Knox, The Real Review
“Light, bright yellow colour with discreet and reserved fresh pastry, oatmeal and pencil wood aromas, the palate light and bright and quite intense, with a linear profile and reserved cashew, almond and nougat flavours. A refined and subtle wine which is lovely now but promises more in a year or two.” – Huon Hooke, The Real Review
“Tarraford is exuberantly and unashamedly Aussie in all the best ways. It’s bright and lemony, underscored with toast, flint and salt. There’s length, poise, complexity and a seamless balance of freshness, texture and flavor. Set to age, this is delicious right now, too. It’s an excellent example of how far the Yarra and Australia in general has come with this variety.” – Wine Enthusiast
“Aromas of lemon peel, orange blossoms and oyster shells. The palate is medium-bodied with energetic acidity, a creamy mouthfeel and notes of grapefruit, flint and almond meal. Very tightly wound and delicate. Drink or hold.“ – James Suckling
“A bright, sunny personality is underlined by bright golden colour and lively tropical notes atop a pithy citrus body. It’s an honest reflection of site – mostly clone P58 Chardonnay planted at 100m elevation along south- and east-facing slopes on grey clay loam – with the cool location providing lively acidity that ensures good intensity and drive.” – David Sly, Decanter
Vintage Note: 2023 was a small, high-quality vintage in the Yarra Valley. The season was defined by a cool Spring, a mild growing season, cool nights, and medium to high rainfall. 2023 was one of the coolest and latest harvests on record, with our first pick starting two and a half weeks later than the previous average. The grapes in 2023 had lovely fruit concentration with bright natural acidities.
Winemaking Notes: 100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred directly to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking full lees. Fermented in 500L French oak puncheons. 20% malolactic fermentation. Matured for 9 months in new and used French oak – 10% new, 90% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
In stock
