Giant Steps Chardonnay 2021 Sexton Vineyard Yarra Valley

James Suckling
95/100 punten
A rich and textural chardonnay with tons of ripe pear fruit and floral complexity. On the concentrated palate this has a serious tannin structure and a bright mineral acidity that interlocks very neatly. Long, generous and complete finish.

Wine Front
95/100 punten
This seemed ultra-reserved in the context of the Tarraford, which I’d tasted immediately prior. Citrus here and red apple, with pear, the citrus both pure juice and preserved. Oak spice, and custard powder characters, are so well threaded, ginger nut/biscuit aspects rising through the finish. World apart from the Tarraford; perfect pigeon pair. The longer it sat in the glass the more those complex, juicy, apple-like characters blossomed, marzipan with them, nectarines squeezed with salted lemons. This is a wine of tight, complex power, the fruit pure and commanding, the finish taut but persistent.

Huon Hooke
94/100 punten
A trace of smoky, toasted timber leads into a restrained and quite delicate wine with properly dry balance and some length. It looks to need a bit more time. Refreshing lemony finish. Tense and coiled and ready to unfold more in time.

Jancis Robinson
17/20 punten
Vineyard planted with a mix of clones (but mainly Gingin and Mendoza) in 1997 at 130–210 m at Gruyere on grey clay/loam over granite/ironstone on north-facing slopes. Hand-picked in February with Giant Steps, for whom this vineyard is regarded as the best, reporting 2021 was 'a spectacular year with every block and clone contributing to the final blend'. Whole bunch pressed, juice transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling. Fermented in 500-l French puncheons. A small amount of bâtonnage and 20% malolactic conversion. Aged for 10 months in French oak (20% new). Being on the higher slopes, topsoil is thin and root systems have established themselves in shallow gravelly loams above a tough rocky clay base. Bunch yields are naturally low and skins are thick. Complete nose with both minerals and citrus notes plus a hint of apple blossom. Still quite youthful but very promising. Markedly persistent with marked acidity but no shortage of fruit. Not austere but very far from fat. Neat and quite delicate. Fans out on the finish. They must be very pleased with this wine, from a hugely successful vintage.