Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 6pack 13% 750ml

Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 6pack 13% 750ml

TASTING NOTES

PALATE

This vineyard produces Chardonnay with lovely pithy fruit characters, savoury saline notes and a soft and textured mid palate, finished with line and length driven by natural acidity.

REGION NOTES

Located in a protected valley, Tarraford Vineyard has a discreet microclimate that is cooler than neighbouring sites. Although located in a warmer subregion of the Yarra Valley, the Chardonnay at Tarraford is planted on the cooler slopes. One block, with P58, 548 and 96 clones planted on a southerly facing and tucked into the central vale of the vineyard. The other faces directly east, with lovely eastern morning aspect, which we picked last.

CELLARING POTENTIAL

Now-8 years.

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.

VINIFICATION

100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred directly to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking full lees. Fermented in 500L French oak puncheons. 37% malolactic fermentation.

MATURATION

Matured for 9 months in new and used French oak – 10% new, 90% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.