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“This is a classy, medium-bodied rendition that will unfurl and garner more complexity given more time.” 95 points - Jane Faulkner. James Halliday Wine Companion 94 points. A blend of 55/40/5% merlot/cabernet/petit verdot. All barriques, 20% new. A medium deep, bright, plummy red. A good effort from this cooler year, this smells of dark cherry, damson plums, cedar and a dusting of fine, good-quality dark cacao powder. Good depth on the medium-bodied palate, too. The tannins are fine and persistent with good grip on the finish and while approachable now, with food, this will continue to improve in the bottle for at least the next...

James Halliday Wine Companion 97 points. From the Primavera vineyard at Woori Yallock, planted in 2001 on the same red soil as Wombat Creek. Both destemmed (55%) and whole-bunch components. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. A very bright crimson purple. So pure and perfumed with briary cherries, ripe redcurrants and freshly cut roses. Poised, juicy and energetic, the wine has so much tang and crunch, you barely notice that this is also structured finishing with long, gently puckering tannins. A wine with immediate appeal, but also one that will reward at least another 7-10 years in the cellar. 97 points. Philip Rich Published 24 May 2022

Wine Companion 97 points. Made mainly from WA's Gingin clone and planted in Gruyere on the same grey clay as Applejack. Whole bunches pressed into French puncheons with 20% new oak. Smells tightly wound and concentrated with aromas of ripe peach and nectarine, together with just a hint of lanolin and apple custard. Equally powerful and punchy on the palate. This has more of everything, including sprightly acid and some phenolic grip on the very long, stone-fruit pithy finish. Today, this is my pick of the 4 single-vineyard 2021 chardonnays, but who knows what will come out on top in 5 or even 10 years from now! 97 points. Philip Rich...

James Halliday Wine Companion 96 points. From the Sexton vineyard in Gruyere, planted on the same grey clay as the Applejack vineyard; 50% whole bunches and 50% destemmed. Matured 11 months in French barriques (20% new). Bottled unfined and unfiltered. A dark, deep crimson. A more robust Yarra Valley pinot with its aromas of dark cherries, black plum and a dried-earth character that makes it quite different to the other Giant Step single-vineyard pinots. Sweetly fruited, concentrated and structured on the palate, what this impressive wine doesn't have in finesse, it makes up for in power and grunt. This should still be looking good, 10,...

“The One That Goes All Minerally. Huge mineral feel, indeed, you’d paste this into the section under ‘Wine; Minerality’ in an encyclopaedia. All pebbles and talc in perfume, sure, some citrus, citrus blossom, faint bread dough notes, but you’re drawn to the flint and element rocky notes primarily. The palate does the same, flint, wet slate, smooth pebbles rolled around the palate, olive brine, green apple juice and lime comes in too. Feels quite firm despite a sense of juiciness and being dart-shaped and long. Finishes with the faintest kiss of salted nuttiness. Just beautiful. Poised and fine.” 95 points,...

Mike Bennie, Wine Front, 93 points. Located in a protected valley, Tarraford Vineyard has a discreet microclimate, that is cooler than neighbouring sites. A diversity of aspect and clone provides multifaceted winemaking opportunities. Although located in a warmer part of the valley, the site produces Chardonnay with high natural acids (and low pH) expressing itself through its characteristically long palate, fine tight structure and a zesty lemon/grapefruit finish.

The warmest site of the 4 Giant Steps single-vineyard chardonnays, but planted on a south-facing slope in Tarrawarra. As with all of them, this was whole-bunch pressed and barrel fermented 15% new French puncheons). A fuller, bright, green gold. Quite restrained with aromas of stone fruits, oatmeal and a little wet rock. I like both the intensity and restraint on the palate and this may, paradoxically, need the longest of the 4 single-vineyard 2021 chardonnays to open up. Date Tasted: Feb 2022; Drink to: 2028; Price: $65.00; Alcohol: 13%; Rating: 95 Points; Philip Rich; James Halliday Wine Companion Sweet oak into white stonefruit, citrus...

James Halliday Wine Companion 95 points. Whole-bunched pressed into older French puncheons. Natural fermentation and zero mlf. A super-bright green gold. Vibrant aromas with perfectly ripened stone fruits, grapefruit pith and an attractive touch of lemongrass and ginger. Gently textured, balanced and satisfying. A class act from beginning to end. Philip Rich. Gary Walsh, Wine Front, 94 points. WINERY NOTE: The Yarra Valley range is made from handpicked fruit from all of our estate vineyards. The wines are produced using indigenous yeasts, gravity-flow winemaking, and minimal fining and filtration. This approach produces highly expressive...

Trophy, Best Rose, Yarra Valley Wine Show 2022. Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, using the crémant cycle taking only the fresh free run. The clear juice was then racked to a stainless steel tank for a long cool ferment. Once the ferment was dry, the tank was given a quick chill before bottling in July. WHY? Inspired really by what we are seeing out of southern France - those pale, bone dry Rosé’s from Provence, but also, we are intrigued by the perfume of early picked Yarra Valley Pinot Syrah. When it is hand-picked and gently pressed, it has to be one of the great combinations for a dry Rosé - fresh and...