Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay

Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay

2022 Chardonnay

Yarra Valley, Victoria

From $80.00 per bottle
    JamesSuckling.com
    “Made from a 50/50% blend of Gingin and Bernard (or Dijon, as it's often referred to) clones planted on north-facing soil in Gruyere. Whole bunches pressed to French puncheons, 20% new oak. A bright green gold. The most immediate of the four single-vineyard chardonnays from Giant Steps in 2022. Perfectly ripened white peach and apricot aromas with scents of German spiced biscuits and a little flint. Textured with good intensity, this silky wine flows effortlessly across the palate.” - Ned Goodwin
    96 points, June 2023.

    Wine Details

    • Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
    • Vintage 2022
    • Type White Wine
    • Variety Chardonnay
    • Vegan Friendly ✔
    • Volume 750ml
    • Alcohol Volume 13%
    • PH

      3.20

    • Standard Drinks 7.7
    • Acidity

      6.5g/L

    • Closure ScrewCap
    • Bottling Date

      December 2022

    • Harvest Date

      February - 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 normal 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 and great natural acidity.

    • Vineyard Notes

      Location: Gruyere Planted: 1997 Elevation: 130 - 210 metres Soil Type: Grey clay loam over granite / ironstone Aspect: North facing slopes Size: 30 Hectares Located on the steep north facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges, the Sexton Vineyard is exposed and demanding. 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 set naturally low in this environment, resulting in intensely flavoured fruit with high skin to juice ratio.

    • Winemaking

      100% hand picked and whole bunch pressed. The juice is transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking on full gross lees. Wild Fermented in 500L French puncheons. A small amount of bâtonnage and 20% malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 10 months in new and used French oak – 20% new, 80% older, Taransaud, Mercurey and Dargaud & Jaeglé.

    • Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential

      Now - eight years

    JamesSuckling.com
    “Made from a 50/50% blend of Gingin and Bernard (or Dijon, as it's often referred to) clones planted on north-facing soil in Gruyere. Whole bunches pressed to French puncheons, 20% new oak. A bright green gold. The most immediate of the four single-vineyard chardonnays from Giant Steps in 2022. Perfectly ripened white peach and apricot aromas with scents of German spiced biscuits and a little flint. Textured with good intensity, this silky wine flows effortlessly across the palate.” - Ned Goodwin
    96 points, June 2023.

    Wine Details

    • Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
    • Vintage 2022
    • Type White Wine
    • Variety Chardonnay
    • Vegan Friendly ✔
    • Volume 750ml
    • Alcohol Volume 13%
    • PH

      3.20

    • Standard Drinks 7.7
    • Acidity

      6.5g/L

    • Closure ScrewCap
    • Bottling Date

      December 2022

    • Harvest Date

      February - 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 normal 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 and great natural acidity.

    • Vineyard Notes

      Location: Gruyere Planted: 1997 Elevation: 130 - 210 metres Soil Type: Grey clay loam over granite / ironstone Aspect: North facing slopes Size: 30 Hectares Located on the steep north facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges, the Sexton Vineyard is exposed and demanding. 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 set naturally low in this environment, resulting in intensely flavoured fruit with high skin to juice ratio.

    • Winemaking

      100% hand picked and whole bunch pressed. The juice is transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking on full gross lees. Wild Fermented in 500L French puncheons. A small amount of bâtonnage and 20% malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 10 months in new and used French oak – 20% new, 80% older, Taransaud, Mercurey and Dargaud & Jaeglé.

    • Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential

      Now - eight 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
    Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points, May 2023
    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
    Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, June 2023
    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
    Ned Goodwin - jamessuckling.com, 96 points, June 2023
    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
    Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points, May 2023
    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
    Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, June 2023
    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
    Huon Hooke - The Real Review, 96 points, July 2023
    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
    Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points, July 2023
    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
    Huon Hooke - The Real Review, 96 points, July 2023
    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
    Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine Companion, December 2021
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