Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay
2023 Chardonnay
Yarra Valley, Victoria
$90.00
Halliday Wine Companion
"Planted on a cool, south-facing slope in Tarrawarra. Whole-bunch pressed and barrel fermented in seasoned French puncheons and one ceramic egg. A vibrant green gold. Immediately appealing with its aromas of stone fruits, yellow apple, some lemon confiture and a touch of brine. Chalky textured, slippery and with a certain openness but finely detailed and structured too. Grapefruit pithy on the long, beautifully balanced finish." - Philip Rich
97 points, July 2024.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2023
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.5%
- pH 3.16
- Acidity 7.50g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 28th November, 2023
- Harvest Date March, 2023
- Background Single Vineyard
- Vintage Notes 2023 was a small, high-quality vintage in the Yarra Valley. The season was defined by a cool Spring, a mild growing season, cool nights, and medium to high rainfall. 2023 was one of the coolest and latest harvests on record, with our first pick starting two and a half weeks later than the previous average. The grapes in 2023 had lovely fruit concentration with bright natural acidities.
- Vineyard Notes Location: Tarrawarra Planted: 1988 Elevation: 100 metres Soil Type: Grey clay loam Aspect: North, south and east facing slopes Size: 8.5 Hectares Located in a protected valley, Tarraford Vineyard has a discreet microclimate that is cooler than neighbouring sites. Although located in a warmer subregion of the Yarra Valley, the Chardonnay at Tarraford is planted on the cooler slopes. One block, with P58, 548 and 96 clones planted on a southerly facing and tucked into the central vale of the vineyard. The other faces directly east, with lovely eastern morning aspect, which we picked last. This vineyard produces Chardonnay with lovely pithy fruit characters, savoury saline notes and a soft and textured mid palate, finished with line and length driven by natural acidity.
- Winemaking 100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred directly to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking full lees. Fermented in 500L French oak puncheons. 20% malolactic fermentation. Matured for 9 months in new and used French oak – 10% new, 90% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Now - eight years
Halliday Wine Companion
"Planted on a cool, south-facing slope in Tarrawarra. Whole-bunch pressed and barrel fermented in seasoned French puncheons and one ceramic egg. A vibrant green gold. Immediately appealing with its aromas of stone fruits, yellow apple, some lemon confiture and a touch of brine. Chalky textured, slippery and with a certain openness but finely detailed and structured too. Grapefruit pithy on the long, beautifully balanced finish." - Philip Rich
97 points, July 2024.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2023
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.5%
- pH 3.16
- Acidity 7.50g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 28th November, 2023
- Harvest Date March, 2023
- Background Single Vineyard
- Vintage Notes 2023 was a small, high-quality vintage in the Yarra Valley. The season was defined by a cool Spring, a mild growing season, cool nights, and medium to high rainfall. 2023 was one of the coolest and latest harvests on record, with our first pick starting two and a half weeks later than the previous average. The grapes in 2023 had lovely fruit concentration with bright natural acidities.
- Vineyard Notes Location: Tarrawarra Planted: 1988 Elevation: 100 metres Soil Type: Grey clay loam Aspect: North, south and east facing slopes Size: 8.5 Hectares Located in a protected valley, Tarraford Vineyard has a discreet microclimate that is cooler than neighbouring sites. Although located in a warmer subregion of the Yarra Valley, the Chardonnay at Tarraford is planted on the cooler slopes. One block, with P58, 548 and 96 clones planted on a southerly facing and tucked into the central vale of the vineyard. The other faces directly east, with lovely eastern morning aspect, which we picked last. This vineyard produces Chardonnay with lovely pithy fruit characters, savoury saline notes and a soft and textured mid palate, finished with line and length driven by natural acidity.
- Winemaking 100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred directly to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking full lees. Fermented in 500L French oak puncheons. 20% malolactic fermentation. Matured for 9 months in new and used French oak – 10% new, 90% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Now - eight years
Kind Words & Accolades
It's both approachable and gentle, even as a young wine, but the balance for drinking now or cellaring in the short to medium term is absolutely spot on.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points, March 20252024 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Chardonnay 
Driven and coiled across the tongue.
Stuart Knox - Real Review, 97 points, January 20242023 Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay 
There is something for everyone’s palate here and this vintage is singing in perfect harmony.
Shanteh Wale - Wine Pilot, 98 points, August 20242023 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay 
As a young wine, the medium-bodied palate is spicy, silky and long.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points, March 20252024 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
A classic Upper Yarra pinot, driven as much by its fine vein of acidity as its silken tannins.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, July 20242023 Giant Steps Bastard Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
It’s a refined wine that makes for heavenly drinking, even for heathens like me.
Shanteh Wale - Wine Companion, 97 points, August 20242023 Giant Steps Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir
Densley packed, this saturates the palate, but, as always, it's light on its feet at the same time. Seamless tannins round out another benchmark for what's already a benchmark wine.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 98 points - Pinot Noir of the year, August 20242023 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir
A great contrast to the more delicate Giant Steps wines such as Bastard Hill and Primavera.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, July 20242023 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir
Concentrated, tightly focused and beautifully balanced. Impressively long on the floral-infused finish. Super wine.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, June 20242022 Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Syrah
This is another superb Yarra cabernet that dispels the notion that you'll have to cellar it for ages to enjoy.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, June 20242022 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon