"Exceptional length, the finish is a starburst of flavour, then chalky and puckering. It opens up beautifully, indeed needs some time to reveal more and more, so you get a complex wine with incredible detail going on." 96pts - Mike Bennie - WineFront
Located on the steep north facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges, the Sexton Vineyard is exposed and demanding. 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.
"A little more volume than the other 2019 Giant Steps single vineyard releases, Sexton pushes ripe citrus, green apple, nuttiness and a Parisian almond/marzipan character. It’s flinty too, minerals don’t escape, but the main gist is a wine of quiet power, depth, concentration and drive. Exceptional length, the finish is a starburst of flavour, then chalky and puckering. It opens up beautifully, indeed needs some time to reveal more and more, so you get a complex wine with incredible detail going on. Long term fans of the Giant Steps chardonnay world will recognise the pedigree here. It has it all."
96pts - Mike Bennie - WineFront
Where this wine comes from - Yarra Valley
Just 50 kilometres from Melbourne, Victoria’s Yarra Valley is a star of the wine regions surrounding the city, known as the ‘Melbourne Dress Circle’. With plenty of microclimates and sub-regions, the Yarra Valley doesn’t have a weak link. Certainly the region’s reputation has been built on the quality of its cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. As far as Chardonnay goes, Yarra Valley strikes the right balance of ripeness, without going over the edge. There’s white peach, lemon pith and Fuji apple supported by a fine spine of citrus-like acidity complemented by supportive oak maturation. The region’s Pinot Noir certainly produces that ethereal quality that Pinot-philes go crazy for – with lifted cherry notes, texture and length. Pinosity? It’s here in spades. Don’t discount Yarra Valley Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, which also have a long history in the region and are being recognised for producing their own unique regional styles. Game on!