Bastard Hill Vineyard Chardonnay
2025 Chardonnay
Yarra Valley, Victoria
$95.00
Halliday Wine Companion
"Planted in '87 in Gladysdale at 400m. This vineyard gets picked a full month after Tarraford and Sexton! This is the third and best wine Giant Steps has made from this cool site. A very bright green gold. Penetrating aromas of crushed rock, nashi pear, ruby grapefruit and orange blossom. It's pure and precise on the palate, with a saline acid line giving the wine structure and length. A special wine that will age effortlessly over the next decade." - Philip Rich
98 points, July 2026.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2025
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.2%
- pH 3.19
- Acidity 6.7g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 10 December, 2025
- Harvest Date 7 March, 2025
- Vintage Notes The 2025 season kicked off with a generous, wet winter that filled the soil profile with moisture. From there, spring arrived warm and dry. Shoots pushed early; we had fantastic spring conditions during flowering and fruit set. The dry season pushed growth and ripening along even though temperatures weren’t hot, in fact barely warmer than average, a pleasant surprise for the dryness of the season. Harvest came earlier than usual and moved quickly, a compressed vintage that asked a great deal of the team and rewarded the effort with fruit of exceptional quality, concentration and weight.
- Vineyard Notes Location: Gladysdale Planted: 1986 Elevation: 380 metres Soil Type: Volcanic loam (red / ferrous) Aspect: North and south facing slopes Size: 13 Hectares Situated in Gladysdale in the Upper Yarra Valley, Bastard Hill is a 31-hectare property with 13 hectares of vines planted exclusively to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Its expressive name comes from the vineyard’s steep slopes and high altitude, which range from 300 to 400 metres. Planted in the late 1980s by respected viticulturist Ray Guerin, Bastard Hill was initially dedicated to the production of super-premium sparkling wine. Its potential for still wines was quickly recognised, with Bastard Hill Chardonnay and Pinot Noir first released in the 1990s. Now regarded as one of Australia’s great Chardonnay sites, Bastard Hill produces wines of purity, concentration and texture. The Chardonnay comes predominantly from the south-facing Block 7, showing wild honey, candle wax, elderflower and chamomile, carried by a layered, textural palate.
- Winemaking 100% handpicked. Whole bunch pressed, juice transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling. Fermentation in 500L French puncheons. No malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 9 months in used French oak – 17% new and 83% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Now - eight years
Halliday Wine Companion
"Planted in '87 in Gladysdale at 400m. This vineyard gets picked a full month after Tarraford and Sexton! This is the third and best wine Giant Steps has made from this cool site. A very bright green gold. Penetrating aromas of crushed rock, nashi pear, ruby grapefruit and orange blossom. It's pure and precise on the palate, with a saline acid line giving the wine structure and length. A special wine that will age effortlessly over the next decade." - Philip Rich
98 points, July 2026.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2025
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.2%
- pH 3.19
- Acidity 6.7g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 10 December, 2025
- Harvest Date 7 March, 2025
- Vintage Notes The 2025 season kicked off with a generous, wet winter that filled the soil profile with moisture. From there, spring arrived warm and dry. Shoots pushed early; we had fantastic spring conditions during flowering and fruit set. The dry season pushed growth and ripening along even though temperatures weren’t hot, in fact barely warmer than average, a pleasant surprise for the dryness of the season. Harvest came earlier than usual and moved quickly, a compressed vintage that asked a great deal of the team and rewarded the effort with fruit of exceptional quality, concentration and weight.
- Vineyard Notes Location: Gladysdale Planted: 1986 Elevation: 380 metres Soil Type: Volcanic loam (red / ferrous) Aspect: North and south facing slopes Size: 13 Hectares Situated in Gladysdale in the Upper Yarra Valley, Bastard Hill is a 31-hectare property with 13 hectares of vines planted exclusively to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Its expressive name comes from the vineyard’s steep slopes and high altitude, which range from 300 to 400 metres. Planted in the late 1980s by respected viticulturist Ray Guerin, Bastard Hill was initially dedicated to the production of super-premium sparkling wine. Its potential for still wines was quickly recognised, with Bastard Hill Chardonnay and Pinot Noir first released in the 1990s. Now regarded as one of Australia’s great Chardonnay sites, Bastard Hill produces wines of purity, concentration and texture. The Chardonnay comes predominantly from the south-facing Block 7, showing wild honey, candle wax, elderflower and chamomile, carried by a layered, textural palate.
- Winemaking 100% handpicked. Whole bunch pressed, juice transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling. Fermentation in 500L French puncheons. No malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 9 months in used French oak – 17% new and 83% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Now - eight years
Kind Words & Accolades
Brightly fruited, with vibrant acidity that gives the wine freshness and energy.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points, March 20262025 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Chardonnay 
A class act to drink now and over the next four to six years.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points, March 20262025 Giant Steps Circle of Fifths Chardonnay
An excellent Sexton to drink now and over the next six to eight years.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, July 20262025 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay
As good a Giant Steps entry point as I have tasted.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points, March 20262025 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
A step up on last year's Circle of Fifths
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96+ points, March 20262025 Giant Steps Circle of Fifths Pinot Noir
A more concentrated and brooding Primavera.
Philip Rich - Wine Companion, 97+ points, July 20262025 Giant Steps Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir
Not sure I've tasted a better Applejack Pinot, which is saying something.
Philip Rich - Wine Companion, 98+ points, July 20262025 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir