Personalised Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 12.5% 750ML

Personalised Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 750ML

TASTING NOTES

PALATE

This chardonnay is savoury, with lovely notes of lemon rind and grilled nuts.

REGION NOTES

Applejack Vineyard is a special site, located on a dramatic slope in the upper Yarra Valley and is closely planted and fastidiously managed. It was planted by respected viticulturist Ray Guerin in 1997. The basalt based underlying volcanic soil and rock produce a characteristically fine yet extended, spicy and firm palate. The higher altitude results in a cooler and extended growing season, ideally suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (3-4 weeks later than central Yarra Valley).

CELLARING POTENTIAL

Now-8 years.

VINIFICATION

100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred directly to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking full lees. Wild fermented in 500L French oak puncheons. No bâtonnage. No Malolactic fermentation.

MATURATION

Maturation for 9 months in used French oak – 15% New, 85% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.

VINTAGE NOTES

The 2024 vintage was a more classic Yarra season. A cool start to Spring and ideal flowering conditions led to good fruit set and moderate yields. December was cool and mild, with significant rainfall at New Years and during the first week of January, giving the vines a good drink leading into the heat of February. Mid to late February was drier and warmer than is common in the Yarra, leading to great ripening conditions with no disease pressure and quite a fast vintage. In 2024, all of our Pinot and Chardonnay was ready in quick succession, leading to a compressed harvest - with the whole valley picked in the space of 3 weeks (where it normally spreads across 6 weeks). An exciting ride for our team, but ultimately giving us wines with great flavour, bright acidity and balance.

Reviews:

Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 97 Pts

Reserved, powerful, super complex nose, smoky, spicy, citrus oils and juice, into stonefruit, into an earthen aspect. This is for the cellar and this is super. Aftertaste brings grapefruit and apple skins, texture, mineral, stones. Outstanding Applejack Chardonnay. Intense and pure but with layers of character. Reserved power. One of the most characterful Applejack chardonnays I’ve tasted. No new oak. It’s not exaggerated or in your face but this just has all the extras.

Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 96 Pts

Very light straw colour and the aroma is subdued and shy, a little butter shortbread and croissant coming through, pear and custard apple on palate too. The palate is much more forthcoming, with intensity and verve, the acidity crisp and invigorating, the finish cleansing, satisfying and super-long. A superb chardonnay which has a rosy future if cellared.

Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion - 96 Pts

Applejack vineyard was planted at Gladysdale by Ray Guerin in '97, and only 2ha of its 11ha are planted to chardonnay. Fermented and matured in both puncheons and ceramic eggs (30%). This is all about purity and precision with its aromas of white stone fruits, crushed rocks and a little white nougat. The palate is, as you'd expect, tightly coiled, waiting to unwind. Saline and long. Along with the Bastard Hill, this will need some time to become more open and expressive.