96 Points - Philip Rich
Giant Steps has forged a reputation as one of the Yarra Valley's leading wineries, with their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay consistently among the nation's finest examples. Named 'Winery Of The Year' in the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, Giant Steps continues to produce some stunning cool-climate wines.
Always one of our most popular Pinot Noir releases of the year, the 2023 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir is a product of another high quality yet low-yielding season in the Yarra Valley. Sourced from vineyards across the Yarra Valley, this latest release delivers impressive vibrancy and approachability, with excellent fruit concentration and intensity of flavour. A Pinot Noir of beautiful poise and subtle complexity, this is exceptional value-for-money.
"96 Points. A 50/50% mix of upper and lower Yarra fruit; 35% whole bunches and matured in French oak (10% new). A bright crimson red. After a few good few swirls, aromas of ripe raspberries, black cherries, wild herbs and some crushed violets soon emerge. The palate, though, doesn't need much coaxing, and this silken, sappy wine has excellent depth and persistence. Will be even better six to 12 months from now. 13.5% alc. Screwcap. Drink: 2024 - 2030. $50"- Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion 2025.
"93 Points. Bing cherries, rhubarb and boysenberries. Crushed allspice, soft licorice and cardamom. Nigella seed, poppy and white pepper. Gravel and black stone. Pure black fruit intensity with compact berries. The character of this wine doesn’t rely solely on bunch work but the proportion sits fairly high at 35% and it carries it well. It’s confident in its composition of fruit and everything else is in balance, like a cobweb of support. A gentle swathe of fine tannins and lingering acidity. Delicious, structured and drinking very well now. A wine that would shine with almost any dish but for an example I’d say chewy wok charred Pad See Ew noodles with beef would elevate any night of the week. $50."- Shanteh Wale, winepilot.com.
