2017 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay

This is the inaugural release of Giant Step’s Applejack Chardonnay and its off to an impressive beginning. Brilliant pale straw colour with a greenish tinge outskirts and watery hue. Intense yet simultaneously refined aromatics of white peaches and nectarines subtlety laced with dried honey blossom from the glass overlaying a back drop of biscuity nougat, cashew and a whiff of gun flint. The beautifully crafted palate marries an understated richness with finesse and a subtlety creamed mouthfeel. Flavours of white peach, ripe nectarines and dried honey meld into biscuity nougat like characters, citrus, faint cashew and traces of gun flint. Clean dry finish with perfectly managed acidity. Excellent drive with a long fleshy white peach, nectarine, dried honey, cashew and citrusy nougat aftertaste.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%

Other Reviews….
First Applejack chardonnay that Giant Steps has done. Isolated for its personality. It’s been seen as a single vineyard wine, but normally blended into the ‘Yarra’ wine. Steve Flamsteed et al saw that something special, and they weren’t wrong. How good is intuitive winemaking? Numbers can go hang, here. What a belter. Phwoar.
Parisian almond, lemon rind, grapefruit juice, faint wet slate notes. Saline tang to acidity, some light creaminess of savoury nuttiness though the mainstay is a core of blisteringly fresh tart fruit flavour underlying. Incredible velocity and freshness, character, complexity, nerviness. Beautiful, super thing.
95+ points
Mike Bennie – The Wine Front