Giant Steps Winery of Yarra Valley, Australia

The 2014 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Applejack Vineyard is a remarkable wine. It offers constant, delightful points of tension. It is amply fruited, yet savory. The palate is rich, but juicy. It is 100% wine but, reminiscent of some liqueurs or cocktails without all that sugar and alcohol.

This Giant Steps Pinot Noir is dark ruby in the glass with pronounced aromas of blackcherry jam, bitter orange, black tea, Szechuan pepper corn, dark mineral and leather. The palate is medium-plus in body with moderate tannins which are very fine and viscous. The flavors are intense and match the nose with focused dark fruit surrounded by exotic expressions of spice, herb and wood. The finish is very long with waves of mouth-watering freshness.

This wine is good upon first opening but seems nearly bullet-proof too. I kept checking in on my partial bottle over four days and, if anything, it just kept getting better.

Acquired by Giant Steps founder Phil Sexton in 2013, the Applejack Vineyard lies in the Upper Yarra Valley. It’s altitude keeps the vines cooler than they might be on the valley floor. Giant Steps takes a natural, non-intrusive approach in both vineyard and winery.

2014 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Applejack Vineyard Yarra Valley

Rating: 95
Drink: now through 2024
Closure: Screwcap
Retail Price: $40

Details

Winemaker: Steve Flamsteed
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir, clone MV6
Origin: Applejack Vineyard, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Fermentation: Native yeast, 60% whole cluster in open wood vats
Aging: 11 months in French puncheons, 25% new
Alcohol: 13.5%

Service Recommendations

Decanting: Beneficial but not required
Temperature: 57°–60° F
Food pairing: Duck confit, Moroccan chicken tagine with green olive, braised lamb shank

Text copyright Fred Swan 2016. The Giant Steps logo is a trademark of Giant Steps Winery. All rights reserved.