Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay
2023 Chardonnay
Yarra Valley, Victoria
$90.00
2024 James Halliday Chardonnay + Cabernet Challenge
Gold Medal
Wine Pilot
"The north facing Sexton vineyard planted in late 90’s is Giant Steps home base. In the planted 30Ha of chardonnay, Mel Chester has her pick of the patchwork vineyard pulling from Gingin, Mendoza and Bernard clones. Here we see about 50% Gingin. This wine has character. You cannot or will ever say it’s a wallflower. Driven by its intensity of orchard fruit, nectarine and white peach, backed by some of the spiciest back up singers. Turmeric, curry leaf, dandelion and cumin. It’s muscular, powerful and yet graceful, like the stride of an outside centre in rugby, Mark Ella, perhaps. A hint of churned butter and glace pineapple on the finish. Acidity hums along nicely. There is something for everyone’s palate here and this vintage is singing in perfect harmony. Drink now and will cellar well upwards of 8 years. This would be a belter served with homemade cornbread and fried chicken." - Shanteh Wale
98 points, August 2024.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2023
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.5%
- PH 3.13
- Acidity 7.5g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date March, 2023
- Harvest Date November, 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: 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 an icon Chardonnay Vineyard. 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. The predominant clones are Gingin and Mendoza which produce hens and chickens (large and small grapes on the same bunch), which results in high white tannin and phenolic content to balance the citrus flavours. This vineyard produces our most confident and open chardonnays due to it’s northern aspect and exposure and clonal selection. The exotic fruits of yuzu, ginger snap biscuit and preserve lemon give a wine of energy and drive, finished with a lovely texture from the characteristic Gingin tannins and acidity.
- Winemaking 100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice is transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking on full lees. Wild Fermented in 500L French puncheons. A small amount of bâtonnage post fermentation and 20% malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 9 months in new and used French oak – 15% new, 85% seasoned, Taransaud, Mercurey and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Now - eight years
2024 James Halliday Chardonnay + Cabernet Challenge
Gold Medal
Wine Pilot
"The north facing Sexton vineyard planted in late 90’s is Giant Steps home base. In the planted 30Ha of chardonnay, Mel Chester has her pick of the patchwork vineyard pulling from Gingin, Mendoza and Bernard clones. Here we see about 50% Gingin. This wine has character. You cannot or will ever say it’s a wallflower. Driven by its intensity of orchard fruit, nectarine and white peach, backed by some of the spiciest back up singers. Turmeric, curry leaf, dandelion and cumin. It’s muscular, powerful and yet graceful, like the stride of an outside centre in rugby, Mark Ella, perhaps. A hint of churned butter and glace pineapple on the finish. Acidity hums along nicely. There is something for everyone’s palate here and this vintage is singing in perfect harmony. Drink now and will cellar well upwards of 8 years. This would be a belter served with homemade cornbread and fried chicken." - Shanteh Wale
98 points, August 2024.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2023
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.5%
- PH 3.13
- Acidity 7.5g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date March, 2023
- Harvest Date November, 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: 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 an icon Chardonnay Vineyard. 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. The predominant clones are Gingin and Mendoza which produce hens and chickens (large and small grapes on the same bunch), which results in high white tannin and phenolic content to balance the citrus flavours. This vineyard produces our most confident and open chardonnays due to it’s northern aspect and exposure and clonal selection. The exotic fruits of yuzu, ginger snap biscuit and preserve lemon give a wine of energy and drive, finished with a lovely texture from the characteristic Gingin tannins and acidity.
- Winemaking 100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice is transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking on full lees. Wild Fermented in 500L French puncheons. A small amount of bâtonnage post fermentation and 20% malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 9 months in new and used French oak – 15% new, 85% seasoned, Taransaud, Mercurey and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
- 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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