2023 Giant Steps Applejack Chardonnay
97 points - Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
"Pale colour. Flinty, grapefruit, nectarine, pear skin aromas with marzipan, hint tonic water notes. Generous, flavourful and mouth filling with ample ripe nectarine, grapefruit flavours, lacy fine textures, attractive mid-palate richness and well-integrated quartz-like acidity. Finishes long and minerally. Superb definition, purity, volume and tension. A wonderful wine."
96 points - Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
"Applejack vineyard was planted at Gladysdale by Ray Guerin in 1997, and only 2ha of its 11ha is planted to chardonnay. It is named for the Applejack eucalypts that surround it. Whole-bunch pressed straight to barrel with full solids and matured in mainly second use puncheons. A very bright green gold. A pure and gently reticent bouquet of stone fruits, lemon verbena and crushed rocks. The palate is tightly coiled, steely, saline and focused. A wine with excellent potential. Drink by 2032."
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front – 96 points
"Anything Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir can do, Applejack Chardonnay can do just as well. This is a ripping chardonnay. It has fruit power up its sleeve and in its wrist bands and everywhere else. And yet it’s tight. And stony. Shot with white peach. And run with apple, sweet cedar, brine and the wet leaves of a lemon tree. There’s some dare to the acidity but it brings flavour with it; it took the risk and it turned out, the reward was worth it. This is an advanced level wine. You drink it, and you know all you need to know. Drink: 2025-2030+."
96 points - Shanteh Wale, Winepilot
"The Applejack vineyard is 1.8ha of Chardonnay, a blend of southern and northern slopes within its east facing site. No battonage and no malolactic fermentation. This vintage is highly aromatic in florals of billy buttons, sunflower and bee pollen. A touch of dandelion, peach stone and mandarin oil. Acidity reaches the zenith whilst the back palate offers shortbread, marzipan and hazelnut paste. I adore the originality of this wine, its showing off its more elevated site whilst an intriguing aromatic profile shines through. Drink now or will cellar well for 5 years. A wine that could handle a rich carbonara or cheesy cauliflower bake."
97 points - Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
"Pale colour. Flinty, grapefruit, nectarine, pear skin aromas with marzipan, hint tonic water notes. Generous, flavourful and mouth filling with ample ripe nectarine, grapefruit flavours, lacy fine textures, attractive mid-palate richness and well-integrated quartz-like acidity. Finishes long and minerally. Superb definition, purity, volume and tension. A wonderful wine."
96 points - Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
"Applejack vineyard was planted at Gladysdale by Ray Guerin in 1997, and only 2ha of its 11ha is planted to chardonnay. It is named for the Applejack eucalypts that surround it. Whole-bunch pressed straight to barrel with full solids and matured in mainly second use puncheons. A very bright green gold. A pure and gently reticent bouquet of stone fruits, lemon verbena and crushed rocks. The palate is tightly coiled, steely, saline and focused. A wine with excellent potential. Drink by 2032."
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front – 96 points
"Anything Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir can do, Applejack Chardonnay can do just as well. This is a ripping chardonnay. It has fruit power up its sleeve and in its wrist bands and everywhere else. And yet it’s tight. And stony. Shot with white peach. And run with apple, sweet cedar, brine and the wet leaves of a lemon tree. There’s some dare to the acidity but it brings flavour with it; it took the risk and it turned out, the reward was worth it. This is an advanced level wine. You drink it, and you know all you need to know. Drink: 2025-2030+."
96 points - Shanteh Wale, Winepilot
"The Applejack vineyard is 1.8ha of Chardonnay, a blend of southern and northern slopes within its east facing site. No battonage and no malolactic fermentation. This vintage is highly aromatic in florals of billy buttons, sunflower and bee pollen. A touch of dandelion, peach stone and mandarin oil. Acidity reaches the zenith whilst the back palate offers shortbread, marzipan and hazelnut paste. I adore the originality of this wine, its showing off its more elevated site whilst an intriguing aromatic profile shines through. Drink now or will cellar well for 5 years. A wine that could handle a rich carbonara or cheesy cauliflower bake."
97 points - Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
"Pale colour. Flinty, grapefruit, nectarine, pear skin aromas with marzipan, hint tonic water notes. Generous, flavourful and mouth filling with ample ripe nectarine, grapefruit flavours, lacy fine textures, attractive mid-palate richness and well-integrated quartz-like acidity. Finishes long and minerally. Superb definition, purity, volume and tension. A wonderful wine."
96 points - Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
"Applejack vineyard was planted at Gladysdale by Ray Guerin in 1997, and only 2ha of its 11ha is planted to chardonnay. It is named for the Applejack eucalypts that surround it. Whole-bunch pressed straight to barrel with full solids and matured in mainly second use puncheons. A very bright green gold. A pure and gently reticent bouquet of stone fruits, lemon verbena and crushed rocks. The palate is tightly coiled, steely, saline and focused. A wine with excellent potential. Drink by 2032."
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front – 96 points
"Anything Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir can do, Applejack Chardonnay can do just as well. This is a ripping chardonnay. It has fruit power up its sleeve and in its wrist bands and everywhere else. And yet it’s tight. And stony. Shot with white peach. And run with apple, sweet cedar, brine and the wet leaves of a lemon tree. There’s some dare to the acidity but it brings flavour with it; it took the risk and it turned out, the reward was worth it. This is an advanced level wine. You drink it, and you know all you need to know. Drink: 2025-2030+."
96 points - Shanteh Wale, Winepilot
"The Applejack vineyard is 1.8ha of Chardonnay, a blend of southern and northern slopes within its east facing site. No battonage and no malolactic fermentation. This vintage is highly aromatic in florals of billy buttons, sunflower and bee pollen. A touch of dandelion, peach stone and mandarin oil. Acidity reaches the zenith whilst the back palate offers shortbread, marzipan and hazelnut paste. I adore the originality of this wine, its showing off its more elevated site whilst an intriguing aromatic profile shines through. Drink now or will cellar well for 5 years. A wine that could handle a rich carbonara or cheesy cauliflower bake."
DETAILS
PRODUCER - Giant Steps
VINTAGE - 2023
VARIETAL - Chardonnay
COUNTRY - Australia
REGION - Yarra Valley, Vic
BOTTLE SIZE - 750ml
