Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir
2023 Pinot Noir
Yarra Valley, Victoria
$100.00
Wine Pilot
"Primavera is often late to ripen, and so has been closely and painstakingly monitored by Lou Primavera since 2000. His understanding of the red basalt soils and site is then further heightened by the winemaking team who know how to draw out its nuances. What is, for me, the creative child of the line up. I adore the red fruit core of raspberry, pomegranate and rhubarb. Which then lends way to harissa, oolong tea and carob notes. Cumin, cassia and dried porcini mushroom on the finish. There are stringy bark tannins and crackle to the acidity. A sweet cherry tomato mid palate, that makes for moreish drinking. It’s a refined wine that makes for heavenly drinking, even for heathens like me. Drink now and will cellar well for 6 years. A lovely pairing for tomato and pancetta risotto." - Shanteh Wale
97 points, August 2024.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2023
- Type Red Wine
- Variety Pinot Noir
- Vegan Friendly ✔
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.2%
- PH 3.49
- Acidity 5.9g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 12th December, 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: Woori Yallock Planted: 2001 Elevation: 240 metres Soil type: Red clay loam Aspect: North and north-east facing slopes Size: 12 Hectares After discovering the Yarra Valley wines 25 years ago, Lou Primavera planted this vineyard in Hoddles Creek in 2001. We have a long-standing relationship with the Primavera family, having sourced fruit from the vineyard from 2006. This small vineyard has Pinot planted on two slopes of the gully right at the start of the Lone Star Creek – with MV6 planted on north slope and 115 and G-clone on south slope. This vineyard always produced our most floral, red fruited and fragrant Pinot Noir, with a sweetness and softness.
- Winemaking Handpicked, fermented in a combination of small oak fermenters and stainless-steel open vats. Each clone was fermented and matured separately and is either fermented with 100% whole bunches included or 100% Destemmed. The MV6 was fermented as whole bunches in a seasoned oak vat, while the 115 and G clone were fermented as whole berries with a 4-day cold soak before the start of fermentation. The ferments spent between 10 – 14 days on skins, with gentle mixing throughout that time using gravity. The resulting blend is 15% Whole bunch fermented. All parcels completed malolactic fermentation and were then matured in French oak Barriques (225L) – 20% new, 80% seasoned – for nine months. The wine was not moved and kept in contact with its lees before blending in November. Bottled by gravity. No fining. No filtration.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Now - eight years
Wine Pilot
"Primavera is often late to ripen, and so has been closely and painstakingly monitored by Lou Primavera since 2000. His understanding of the red basalt soils and site is then further heightened by the winemaking team who know how to draw out its nuances. What is, for me, the creative child of the line up. I adore the red fruit core of raspberry, pomegranate and rhubarb. Which then lends way to harissa, oolong tea and carob notes. Cumin, cassia and dried porcini mushroom on the finish. There are stringy bark tannins and crackle to the acidity. A sweet cherry tomato mid palate, that makes for moreish drinking. It’s a refined wine that makes for heavenly drinking, even for heathens like me. Drink now and will cellar well for 6 years. A lovely pairing for tomato and pancetta risotto." - Shanteh Wale
97 points, August 2024.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2023
- Type Red Wine
- Variety Pinot Noir
- Vegan Friendly ✔
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.2%
- PH 3.49
- Acidity 5.9g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 12th December, 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: Woori Yallock Planted: 2001 Elevation: 240 metres Soil type: Red clay loam Aspect: North and north-east facing slopes Size: 12 Hectares After discovering the Yarra Valley wines 25 years ago, Lou Primavera planted this vineyard in Hoddles Creek in 2001. We have a long-standing relationship with the Primavera family, having sourced fruit from the vineyard from 2006. This small vineyard has Pinot planted on two slopes of the gully right at the start of the Lone Star Creek – with MV6 planted on north slope and 115 and G-clone on south slope. This vineyard always produced our most floral, red fruited and fragrant Pinot Noir, with a sweetness and softness.
- Winemaking Handpicked, fermented in a combination of small oak fermenters and stainless-steel open vats. Each clone was fermented and matured separately and is either fermented with 100% whole bunches included or 100% Destemmed. The MV6 was fermented as whole bunches in a seasoned oak vat, while the 115 and G clone were fermented as whole berries with a 4-day cold soak before the start of fermentation. The ferments spent between 10 – 14 days on skins, with gentle mixing throughout that time using gravity. The resulting blend is 15% Whole bunch fermented. All parcels completed malolactic fermentation and were then matured in French oak Barriques (225L) – 20% new, 80% seasoned – for nine months. The wine was not moved and kept in contact with its lees before blending in November. Bottled by gravity. No fining. No filtration.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Now - eight years
Kind Words & Accolades
Alive with energy and creeping unsuspecting power.
Shanteh Wale - Winepilot, 95 points, April 20242023 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
The palate, though, doesn't need much coaxing, and this silken, sappy wine has excellent depth and persistence.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points, April 20242023 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
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