Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

"In true Giant Steps style, the 2022 Single Vineyard release walks the line with swagger and palpable energy. Mel Chester hits it out of the park."  Shanteh Wale

Giant Steps is recognized as a global benchmark for cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The winery was established in 1998, one year after founder Phil Sexton arrived in the Yarra Valley in search of ideal sites to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of purity and finesse. The Giant Steps Single Vineyard range is produced from the most site-expressive fruit off the best vineyards in great years.

"There is good intensity of flavour in the mouth, tightly focused and supplied with a lip-smacking firmness from the tannins. Depth and penetration: this would benefit from a little time to reveal its full glory."  Huon Hooke

The Sexton Vineyard is located at Gruyere in the Lower Yarra Valley and was planted in 1997. The 30 hectare vineyard is at an elevation of 130-210 metres, has north facing slopes on grey clay soils and is planted to MV6, G5V15, POM5 and D clones.

"Hand-picked, all fruit is chilled overnight to 12 degrees Celsius. The grapes were 100% destemmed, soaked cold for five days, then allowed to warm gently into a wild ferment. All parcels were matured in French oak – 25% new, 75% older – for 10 months in 225L barriques, Taranasaud, Vicard and Dargaud & Jaeglé. Racked to blend, no fining, no filtration. Bottled by gravity." Giant steps

Expert reviews

"From the Sexton vineyard in Gruyere. Destemmed with whole berries and matured nine months in French barriques (20% new). A deep ruby crimson. The densest and most brooding of the Giant Steps Yarra Valley single-vineyard pinots from 2022. You'll find bramble berries, freshly ploughed earth and a little black pepper. Savoury and concentrated on the palate, there is plenty of meat on the bones with substantial and persistent tannins masked by the sheer weight of plush fruit at this stage. A succulent wine to enjoy now and over the next few years. Date: Feb 2023; Alcohol: 13%; Price: $90.00; Drink by: 2030."  Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion – 96 points

"100% destemmed and chilled prior to soaking, all parcels were fermented in 25% new French oak and 75% older oak for 10 months in barriques. Blood plums, mulberry and hulled black cherries. Rye bread, pumpernickel and cassia bark. There is stuffing behind the cuddly and pump black fruit with fine tannins and plenty of mouth succulent acidity. The 2022 Sexton is ample in mouthfeel and delivers a juicy, pulpy Pinot Noir of charm. Drink with Chicken Mole, rice and black beans. Drinking very well now and will cellar for 3 years."  Shanteh Wale, Wine Pilot – 95 points

"Aromas of clove, bing cherries, lilac and mulch. A darker composition. A carnal whiff of autumnal leaves and Lapsang souchong. Detailed tannins compress a mid-weighted palate of impressive density and freshness. This will unravel nicely across the mid-term, based on poise and succulent length. A reductive clench at the finish confers further tension. Drinkable now, but best from 2024."  Ned Goodwin MW, James Suckling.com - 95 points 

"Medium-deep red with a strong purple rim, the bouquet is clean and has cherry to raspberry fruits, ripe and aromatic and laced with herb and floral nuances. There is good intensity of flavour in the mouth, tightly focused and supplied with a lip-smacking firmness from the tannins. Depth and penetration: this would benefit from a little time to reveal its full glory. Drink: 2025–2034."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 94 points 

 In 1997 Phil Sexton arrived in the Yarra Valley in search of ideal sites to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of purity and finesse. He was looking for sites with altitude, aged soils, slopes of exposure, regular rainfall and cool to cold nighttime temperatures and a gentle breeze off the protecting mountain ranges. The Giant Steps winery was established one year later in 1998.

The focus is on the production of high-quality, single-vineyard wines. The Giant Steps Single Vineyard range is produced from the most site-expressive fruit off the best vineyards in great years. Each single vineyard wine tells a story about the vineyard, vintage and variety. Production of these wines is very limited with some vineyards producing as little as 200 cases.

The single vineyards comprise the Sexton Vineyard in the Lower Yarra and the Applejack Vineyard in the Upper Yarra (both owned by Giant Steps), the Tarraford Vineyard in the Lower Yarra under long-term lease, the Primavera Vineyard in the Upper Yarra under long-term supervised contract and the Wombat Creek Vineyard owned by Hand Picked Wines. In addition, Giant Steps produce a Yarra Valley range of wines made from handpicked fruit from their estate vineyards. They are highly expressive wines, true to the regional characteristics of the Yarra Valley. 

The Giant Steps wines have received global acclaim and are now recognized as a global benchmark for cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Since 2003 Giant Steps wines have been awarded 34 trophies and over 100 gold medals at major international and domestic wine shows and has been named one of the Top 100 Wineries in the World by US Wine & Spirits Magazine for each of the last six years.

Giant Step's success is due in no small part to Steve Flamsteed, Chief Winemaker since 2003. Steve had previously worked for Leeuwin Estate (1999 – 2002) and the Hardy Wine Company at their Yarra Burn Winery in the Yarra Valley (2002 – 2003). Steve was named Gourmet Traveller Wine 'Winemaker of the Year' in 2016. "Steve Flamsteed is a man of many talents with a finely tuned palate, an instinctive flair for winemaking and fastidious attention to detail. This shows particularly in the stunning single-vineyard chardonnays and pinots of Giant Steps: distinctive wines that reflect their sites and glow with impeccable finesse."  Peter Forrestal, chairman of judges, Gourmet Traveller Wine Winemaker of the Year

Melanie Chester joined Giant Steps as Head of Winemaking and Viticulture in 2021. She came to Giant Steps from Sutton Grange Winery in Central Victoria, where she was Head Winemaker. In 2014, Melanie became the youngest ever scholar selected for The Len Evans Tutorial. In 2015, she was named Young Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine, and in 2018, Melanie was recognized by Young Gun of Wine as the People's Choice award winner for favourite winemaker.

Giant Steps was acquired by the Jackson Family in 2020. The Jackson Family own a vast stable of wineries in California (Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Mendocino County, Monterey County, Santa Barbara and Oregon), Australia (Yarra Valley and McLaren Vale), Chile, France, Italy and South Africa.