Giant Steps, Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

Hand picked, all fruit is chilled overnight to 12 degrees Celsius. Indigenous yeast fermentation. Fermented in small oak fermenters and stainless steel open vats. The MV6 parcels were fermented as whole bunches, while the Pommard, Abel and D clones were destemmed, soaked cold for 5 days, then allowed to warm gently into a wild ferment. All parcels were matured in French oak – 25% new, 75% older – for 8 months in 225L barriques, Taransaud, D&J and Vicard. Racked to blend, no fining, no filtration. Bottled by gravity.

In 1997 Phil Sexton arrived in the Yarra Valley in search of altitude, aged soils, slopes of exposure, regular rainfall and cool to cold night time temperatures and a gentle breeze off the protecting mountain ranges. Why, because he wanted to grow amazing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fruit to make wines of purity and finesse.

Steve Flamsteed, Chief Winemaker of Giant Steps since 2003 has set about creating a range of Single Vineyard wines that personify each site. The Yarra Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were then created, clearly displaying the Yarra Valley fruit in a simple, textural and affordable light.