Country: Australia  Region: Victoria   Category: Red Wine  Color: Red   Producer: Giant Steps "Giant Steps is a privately owned Yarra Valley producer that has forged a reputation for making some of the Yarra Valley's most consistently exciting wines from estate-owned vineyards. The Giant Steps Single Vineyard wines are produced from their best vineyards in great years. Head winemaker Steve Flamsteed and his team aim is to express in each wine the character of the site, grape and vintage, and this they achieve by meticulous work in the vineyard and minimum intervention in the winery. YARRA VALLEYProducing a range of Giant Steps wines using fruit blended from across the estate has been many years in discussion. These wines were born from a desire to produce a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah of Giant Steps quality which are expressive of the regional characteristics of the Yarra Valley, rather than a single site. It also provides for Steve an outlet for wine from younger vines, or for barrels that don't quite match the exacting standards set for the single vineyard wines. These wines are made from hand-picked fruit from estate vineyards, and are produced using indigenous yeasts, gravity-flow winemaking and minimal fining and filtration. The approach is working, for the debut Chardonnay from 2015 won a Gold medal at the 2016 Sommelier Wine Awards." Winemaker: Steve Flamsteed Vineyards: Producing a range of Giant Steps wines using fruit blended from across our estate vineyards has been many years in discussion. These wines were born from a desire to produce a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of Giant Steps quality, which are expressive of the regional characteristics of the Yarra Valley rather than a single site. Fruit for this wine is sourced from the estate vineyards: Tarraford, Sexton, Applejack.  Vinification: The Yarra Valley wines are produced using a natural winemaking philosophy, whilst ensuring quality is the priority. Vinification took place using indigenous yeasts, gravity-flow winemaking and minimal fining and filtration. This approach produces highly expressive wines, true to the climate, soil and topography of the Yarra Valley. The fruit is 100% hand-picked and then fermented in 4000 litre open oak vats. Rack and return takes place by gravity and some light hand plunges are carried out. The wine undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation and is then aged for 11 months in new and used French puncheons, of which 25% are new and 75% older oak. The wine is then bottled without filtration. Tasting Notes: Cherry, plum and crushed dry leaves on the nose, as well as hints of black pepper, all complemented by subtle nuances of eucalypt and clove aromas. Closure:Stelvin  ABV:14%  Acidity [g/l]: 5.68