Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir
2022 Pinot Noir
Yarra Valley, Victoria
From $90.00 per bottle
Halliday Wine Companion
"Named after the Applejack eucalypts that surround the vineyard, which was planted at Gladysdale in 1997. Seven clones comprising 114, 115, MV6, D2V5, D5V15, Pommard and Abel. Whole bunches (15%) and 20–25% new French barriques. Like a Mahler symphony, all of the elements of this wine are in perfect harmony. Aromas of crushed rose petals, red and black cherries, satsuma plums and subtle hints of sandalwood and fennel fronds. There's a little charcuterie and a discreet touch of wet stone. On the palate, this is the most concentrated, structured and saline Applejack I can remember, yet you barely notice the tannins due to the core of pure raspberry and cherry fruit. There's a gentle sappiness on the long, lingering finish. Simply irresistible." - Philip Rich
98 points, August 2023.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2022
- Type Red Wine
- Variety Pinot Noir
- Vegan Friendly ✔
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13%
- PH 3.51
- Standard Drinks 7.7
- Acidity 5.5g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 12th January, 2023
- Harvest Date 10th, 12th and 15th March, 2022
- Background Single Vineyard
- Vintage Notes 2022 was a high quality but low yielding season in the Yarra Valley. A very cool, wet and stormy spring resulted in some challenging conditions around flowering and hence very poor fruit set. The season proceeded to dry out into December, with a dry and warm Christmas period. This exacerbated the already small bunch weights, leading to bunches that weighed up to 40% lower than average. The mild summer meant long, slow ripening and flavour concentration throughout summer, with some well-placed rain in January refreshing the vineyards at just the right time. The strong canopies and low fruit load meant we sailed neatly into picking with very little disease or weather pressure affecting our picking decisions. The grapes from 2022 came off the vine with lovely concentration and flavour with great natural acidity and tannin.
- Vineyard Notes Location: Gladysdale Planted: 1997 Elevation: 300 metres Soil type: Grey clay loam over black (basalt) volcanic base Aspect: East facing slopes Size: 12.5 Hectares Applejack Vineyard is a special site, located on a dramatic slope in the upper Yarra Valley. It was planted by respected viticulturist Ray Guerin in 1997. The basalt based underlying volcanic soil and rock produce a characteristically fine yet extended, spicy and firm palate. The higher altitude results in a cooler and extended growing season, ideally suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (3-4 weeks later than central Yarra Valley). This vineyard is a special location for Pinot Noir in the Yarra Valley – its eastern aspect means the sun rises to warm and dry out the vineyard in the morning, but the vines are sheltered from the afternoon heat from the temperate rainforest that surrounds it. The earthen flavours combined with fine tannins, intense flavour and texture on the palate shows us the quality of the site for world class Pinot Noir.
- Winemaking Hand picked, all fruit is chilled overnight to 12 degrees Celsius. Fermented in small oak fermenters and stainless steel open vats. The Pommard parcels were fermented as whole bunches, while the remaining clones were destemmed to whole berries and cold soaked for five days. The resulting blend is almost 20% whole bunch. All parcels were matured in French oak 20% new, 80% older – for ten months in 225L barriques, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé. Racked to blend, no fining, no filtration. Bottled by gravity.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Two - ten years
Halliday Wine Companion
"Named after the Applejack eucalypts that surround the vineyard, which was planted at Gladysdale in 1997. Seven clones comprising 114, 115, MV6, D2V5, D5V15, Pommard and Abel. Whole bunches (15%) and 20–25% new French barriques. Like a Mahler symphony, all of the elements of this wine are in perfect harmony. Aromas of crushed rose petals, red and black cherries, satsuma plums and subtle hints of sandalwood and fennel fronds. There's a little charcuterie and a discreet touch of wet stone. On the palate, this is the most concentrated, structured and saline Applejack I can remember, yet you barely notice the tannins due to the core of pure raspberry and cherry fruit. There's a gentle sappiness on the long, lingering finish. Simply irresistible." - Philip Rich
98 points, August 2023.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2022
- Type Red Wine
- Variety Pinot Noir
- Vegan Friendly ✔
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13%
- PH 3.51
- Standard Drinks 7.7
- Acidity 5.5g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 12th January, 2023
- Harvest Date 10th, 12th and 15th March, 2022
- Background Single Vineyard
- Vintage Notes 2022 was a high quality but low yielding season in the Yarra Valley. A very cool, wet and stormy spring resulted in some challenging conditions around flowering and hence very poor fruit set. The season proceeded to dry out into December, with a dry and warm Christmas period. This exacerbated the already small bunch weights, leading to bunches that weighed up to 40% lower than average. The mild summer meant long, slow ripening and flavour concentration throughout summer, with some well-placed rain in January refreshing the vineyards at just the right time. The strong canopies and low fruit load meant we sailed neatly into picking with very little disease or weather pressure affecting our picking decisions. The grapes from 2022 came off the vine with lovely concentration and flavour with great natural acidity and tannin.
- Vineyard Notes Location: Gladysdale Planted: 1997 Elevation: 300 metres Soil type: Grey clay loam over black (basalt) volcanic base Aspect: East facing slopes Size: 12.5 Hectares Applejack Vineyard is a special site, located on a dramatic slope in the upper Yarra Valley. It was planted by respected viticulturist Ray Guerin in 1997. The basalt based underlying volcanic soil and rock produce a characteristically fine yet extended, spicy and firm palate. The higher altitude results in a cooler and extended growing season, ideally suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (3-4 weeks later than central Yarra Valley). This vineyard is a special location for Pinot Noir in the Yarra Valley – its eastern aspect means the sun rises to warm and dry out the vineyard in the morning, but the vines are sheltered from the afternoon heat from the temperate rainforest that surrounds it. The earthen flavours combined with fine tannins, intense flavour and texture on the palate shows us the quality of the site for world class Pinot Noir.
- Winemaking Hand picked, all fruit is chilled overnight to 12 degrees Celsius. Fermented in small oak fermenters and stainless steel open vats. The Pommard parcels were fermented as whole bunches, while the remaining clones were destemmed to whole berries and cold soaked for five days. The resulting blend is almost 20% whole bunch. All parcels were matured in French oak 20% new, 80% older – for ten months in 225L barriques, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé. Racked to blend, no fining, no filtration. Bottled by gravity.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Two - ten years
Kind Words & Accolades
Giant Step's calling card is just as good, if not better than the super 2021 release.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points, May 20232022 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Chardonnay 
The sort of wine that begs you to take another sip.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, June 20232022 Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay 
With wines such as these it is little wonder that Australia boasts the finest expressions of chardonnay with Burgundy.
Ned Goodwin - jamessuckling.com, 96 points, June 20232022 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay 
With its core of ripe yet well-delineated fruit and firm-ish, balanced tannins, this is more concentrated and muscular than the 2021.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points, May 20232022 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
A wine of exquisite finesse and excellent depth, the tannins are very fine and long, as is the finish. This will provide much enjoyment over the next decade or so.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, June 20232022 Giant Steps Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir
There is excellent intensity and volume of flavour, allied with good structure thanks to well shaped tannins, the finish long and the flavour and structure finish right out.
Superb pinot noir.
Huon Hooke - The Real Review, 96 points, July 20232022 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir 
Savoury and concentrated on the palate, there is plenty of meat on the bones with substantial and persistent tannins masked by the sheer weight of plush fruit at this stage. A succulent wine to enjoy now and over the next few years.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points, July 20232022 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir
The palate is full, fruit-sweet and rounded, with ample soft fine tannins and highly appealing flavours that linger on well.
Huon Hooke - The Real Review, 96 points, July 2023 2022 Fatal Shore Pinot Noir
Given the style brief, this is pitch perfect. It’s hard to put it down. So I didn’t.
Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine Companion, December 2021 2019 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Syrah Carignan Grenache
Previous
Next
