HISTORY Located in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Giant Steps is recognized as a global benchmark for cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The winery was established in 1998, one year after founder Phil Sexton arrived in the Yarra Valley in search of ideal sites to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of purity and finesse. Enlisting the help of Chief Winemaker Steve Flamsteed who joined the winery in 2003, the two set to create a range of wines that personify the Yarra Valley.
Today, under General Manager and Head Winemaker Melanie Chester, the winery is regarded as one of the most progressive in Australia and is recognized globally for its pursuit of site expression. The wines are among the most anticipated releases from Australia and considered benchmarks for the Yarra Valley.
VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING Located on the steep slopes of the Warramate Ranges, the Sexton Vineyard is in one of the most revered pockets of the Valley. Being well up the Range’s north-facing slopes, topsoil is thin and root systems have established themselves in shallow gravelly loams above a tough, rocky clay base. Bunch yields set naturally low in this environment, resulting in intensely flavoured fruit with high skin to juice ratio. The clonal selection of Pinot Noir off this site includes the G5V15 clone, which responds well to the warmer conditions and sunlight exposure to produce juicy and plush wines. The Pinot Noir produced from Sexton have a lovely texture, with dark cherries and plums, sweet spice notes and youthful tannins.
Elevation: 130 - 210 metres
Soil Type: Grey clay loam over granite / ironstone.
Aspect: North facing slopes
Size: 30 Hectares
Clones: MV6, G5V15, Pommard, 114
Handpicked, fermented in a combination of small oak fermenters and stainless-steel open vats.
The MV6 parcels were fermented as whole bunches, while the remaining clones were destemmed to whole berries and cold soaked for four days before fermentation started.
The resulting blend is 21% whole bunch fermented.
All parcels were matured in French oak – 25% new, 75% seasoned – for 10 months in 225L barriques predominately Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
The wine was not moved and kept in contact with its lees before blending in December. Bottled by gravity. No fining. No filtration.
TASTING NOTES 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.
The Pinot Noir produced from Sexton have a lovely texture, with dark cherries and plums, sweet spice notes and youthful tannins
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