Personalised Giant Steps Bastard Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023 13% 750ml

Personalised Giant Steps Bastard Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023 13% 750ml

TASTING NOTES

AROMA

This is an elegant and perfumed Pinot Noir with exotic red fruit and Bergamot aromas.

REGION NOTES

Situated in the Upper Yarra Valley in the sub-region of Gladysdale, Bastard Hill is a 31-hectare property with 13-hectares (32 acres) of vines, planted exclusively to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The vineyard’s expressive name is derived from its steep slope and high altitude, ranging in elevation from 300-400m. Bastard Hill is a celebrated site planted in the late 1980s by viticultural legend Ray Guerin.

WINEMAKERS COMMENTS

Dedicated initially to the production of super-premium sparkling wine, the site was quickly recognized for its potential to produce top quality still wines, releasing the Bastard Hill Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines in the 1990s.

VINIFICATION

Handpicked in two parcels and chilled overnight before being 100% destemmed into small seasoned French oak vats for fermentation. Each clone was fermented and matured separately. The grapes were cold soaked for four days before fermentation began and spent between 10 – 14 days on skins, with gentle mixing throughout that time using gravity.

MATURATION

All parcels completed malolactic fermentation and were then matured in French oak barriques (225L) – 20% new, 80% seasoned – for ten months. The wine was not moved and kept in contact with its lees before blending in December. Bottled by gravity. No fining. No filtration.

VINTAGE NOTES

2023 was a small, high-quality vintage in the Yarra Valley. The season was defined by a cool Spring, a mild growing season, cool nights, and medium to high rainfall. 2023 was one of the coolest and latest harvests on record, with our first pick starting two and a half weeks later than the previous average. The grapes in 2023 had lovely fruit concentration with bright natural acidities.

95 Points

Polished and refined aromas of wild raspberries, strawberries and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of blackberry bush, cedar, spices and cassia bark. Very pure and expressive, with an underlying tension.

James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, 05 December 2024