Giant Steps 'Sexton Vineyard' Pinot Noir 2010

Giant Steps 'Sexton Vineyard' Pinot Noir 2010 who says Australia can't make world class Pinot Noir....

Tasting Notes

2/1/12
It’s taken awhile but Australia is finally getting its head wrapped around making good Pinot Noir. The Yarra Valley has shown great promise and one of the stars is Giant Steps with their single vineyard Pinot Noir. The 2010 is a real beauty with lovely spice meshing with engaging assorted red berry fruit on its medium weight frame. Finer grained, lighter tannins and beautiful fruit vibrancy, touched up with some spicy nuance and driving acidity gives this nice length and good mid term aging potential. This may not be red Burgundy for the purists, but it’s still quite varietal and very well made.

Awards, Reviews and other Notes

96 pts James Halliday's Wine companion Magazine Dec 2011/Jan 2012
From the estate vineyard, with seven clones, 10% whole bunches, remainder destemmed, not crushed; five-day cold soak, 12 day ferment with minimal plunging 24% new French oak, 25% one-year old; 11 months in oak. A highly fragrant bouquet with cherry and wild strawberry fruit that carries through to the silky palate. Very attractive wine.
92 pts Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Jul/Aug 2011
Light, bright red. An exotic, perfumed bouquet displays raspberry, blackberry, sandalwood and lavender, plus a hint of blood orange. Racy but deep in red and dark berry flavor, showing exotic floral and spice nuances and strong minerality. Finishes on a tangy blood orange note, with excellent clarity.
91+ pts wine Advocate Issue #195 June 2011
A single vineyard wine from the Sexton vineyard planted in 1997, the 2010 Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir underwent a wild fermentation in small open top fermenters using 10% whole bunches and was matured 11 months in new (30%) and older French oak barriques. Medium ruby-purple colored, it offers a moderate intensity of ripe red cherry and pomegranate aromas with hints of cedar, lavender and cinnamon stick. Light to medium bodied, it gives a good amount of pure red berry flavors supported by crisp acid and a low level of fine-grained tannins. The finish is long with a little cinnamon toast coming though the berry vibrancy. Drink it now to 2015+.

6 Bottle price

Price

SKU

Varietal

$26.99

$29.99

9851

Pinot Noir