2018 Giant Steps Pinot Noir

An excellent follow up to the highly rated 2017 vintage. A slightly earlier ripening season and overall relatively dry growing season produced fruit with beautiful flavour and stem ripeness. The resulting 2018 wines have lower alcohol, but similar acid levels to the 2017 and a little more tannin structure. All the 2018 Pinots have lovely perfume, colour and a very generous mouthfeel. This entry level Pinot Noir had forty percent whole bunch inclusion and was matured for 8 months in new (10%) and used French oak. Fruit was sourced from Giant Steps Sexton, Tarraford, Applejack, Primavera and Wombat Creek vineyards.

Supple and light on its feet yet possessing an excellent power wave, this is a delicious Pinot.

Semi translucent bright red core with a crimson red hue. A beautifully perfumed nose sees aromatics of violets, ripe dark cherries, strawberries and anise soaring through the nostrils followed by subtle forest floor notes, fresh herbs and light spicy cedar. The palate is teeming with delicious bright juicy red fruit flavours that fill the mouth. Supple in its feel yet fresh and vibrant on the finish, traces of anise, forest floor and faint spicy fresh herb infusions ensue. Hardly discernible are perfectly integrated velvet like tannins. Excellent power wave concluding with a long expansive aftertaste.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews….
Light to medium, bright red/purple colour, with a wonderfully fragrant, aromatic nose of spicy red and dark cherry. There's a subtle hint of Campari in the aroma and aftertaste which comes from the whole-berry and whole-bunch fermenting techniques. It's light to medium-bodied yet very intense, with penetrating flavour, line and length. The tannins are light and fine yet quite present. An utterly delicious wine and a great follow-up to the outstanding 2017. And like that wine, amazing value for money. The aromatics are quintessential Yarra Valley pinot noir. Alcohol: 13.5%. Drink: 2018-2028.
94 points
Huon Hooke - The Real Review