2023 Giant Steps Coal River Pinot Noir

Highly Rated
Solidly-structured and densely-fruited Pinot sourced from the Coal River Valley in Tasmania.
5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
1 Review

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Sale price$100.00
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Description

Halliday Wine Companion's Winery of the Year!
"Giant Steps, right now, breathes rare air. It’s been an outstanding winery for a long time, but the combination of energy and expertise – and no doubt plenty more besides – that winemaker Melanie Chester has brought since she arrived at the winery in November 2021 has frankly been breathtaking... In short, it’s a thrilling range to drink from."
- Campbell Mattinson (Halliday Wine Companion)

The 2023 Giant Steps Coal River Pinot Noir is a rich and powerful expression of Pinot Noir from Tasmania's Coal River Valley.

Sourced from the Nocton vineyard, this wine reflects the unique terroir of southern Tasmania, where long sunlight hours and cool temperatures contribute to an impressive depth of flavour and colour. Giant Steps’ winemaker, Melanie Chester, and her team have crafted this wine with their signature approach, while also embracing the distinct characteristics of this remote region.

The 2023 season was cool and wet, providing ideal conditions for slow ripening and resulting in generous, healthy bunches. Handpicked and swiftly transported across the Bass Strait, the grapes arrived in Healesville fresh and vibrant. The winemaking process involved both whole-bunch and destemmed fermentation in a mix of open oak and stainless-steel fermenters. The wine was then matured for eight months in French oak barriques, 25% of which were new, to enhance its complexity.

Expect aromas of dark fruits, violets, sarsaparilla, and bay leaf. The palate is richly fruited with layers of dark berries and a hint of spice, complemented by firm tannins and a bright acidity. The result is a wine of remarkable density and texture, with a powerful presence that promises to age gracefully.

The 2023 Giant Steps Coal River Pinot Noir is a compelling addition to the Giant Steps range, offering a taste of Tasmania's unique viticultural landscape.

95 points
"From the Nocton vineyard in the Coal River Valley. Hand picked into a refrigerated container by 10.30am to make the boat to the mainland; 20% whole bunches, 35% new barriques. A deep crimson purple. With its aromas dark fruits, sarsaparilla, violets and bay leaf, this is the big personality in the Giant Step's pinot range! Equally flamboyant on the palate, which is richly fruited and balanced with ripe, muscular tannins ensuring this will be long lived, too."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "From the Nocton vineyard in the Coal River Valley. Hand picked into a refrigerated container by 10.30am to make the boat to the mainland; 20% whole bunches, 35% new barriques. A deep crimson purple. With its aromas dark fruits, sarsaparilla, violets and bay leaf, this is the big personality in the Giant Step's pinot range! Equally flamboyant on the palate, which is richly fruited and balanced with ripe, muscular tannins ensuring this will be long lived, too." - Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "From a dry vintage with plenty of sunlight on this eastern facing slope. Black cherry, bramble and boysenberry. Wood Ear mushroom, hawthorn and thistle. Pomegranate molasses and olive skin. Prune plums and black fig. Grainy tannins and crunchy acidity, there is good mid palate weight and plenty of length. A hint of black pepper spice with star anise and allspice. Drink now and will cellar 5 years on. A wonderful wine for blueberry cheesecake or a crumbly cheddar and quince paste." - Shanteh Wale (Wine Pilot)

Customer Reviews

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 1 review
Total 5 star reviews: 1 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
1 review
  • SD
    Sharon D.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    1 year ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2021 Giant Steps Fatal Shore Pinot Noir
    Reviewing
    2021 Giant Steps Fatal Shore Pinot Noir
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Big bold and dramatic

    Needs time to be fully appreciated.

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SEASON:

The 2023 season in Tasmania started cold and wet building a solid foundation with strong, healthy and generous bunch numbers. Plant growth was slow due
to the cool conditions all the way up until just prior to flowering, when some
well-timed heat spurred the vines along. Flowering was late, but consistent. Lots of shoot and crop thinning was done throughout the season, as well as some
extensive leaf plucking due to the cool conditions. It was a very mild summer with only a few days reaching over 30 degrees Celsius experienced at the
vineyard, which meant a long and slow ripening. The grapes were picked late for our vineyard, coming into the winery late April.


VINIFICATION:

Handpicked, straight into a refrigerated container parked on the vineyard.
The fruit is then immediately driven to Devonport and sailed across Bass Strait to arrive at the winery in Healesville the following morning. Fruit was destemmed and cold soaked for three – four days in open oak vats
and open stainless-steel fermenters. The MV6 (from the rockiest soils at the top of the hill) was fermented as whole
bunches in an oak fermenter. Both parcels were matured in French oak – 25% new, 75% seasoned – for eight
months in 225L barriques D&J, Vicard and Taransaud. Bottled by gravity. No fining. No filtration.


THE VINEYARD:

Location: Coal River Valley

Aspect: North-east facing

Size: 34 Hectares

Planted: 1999

Soil type: Calcareous & Triassic sandstone

Under vine: Mv6, D5V12, G8V3

In our obsession with Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs from great Pinot growing areas around the world, we have gone as far south as you can go in this country. Despite the cool temperatures, the sunlight hours are long and intense, and we are intrigued by the depth of palate and colour that is possible from this
landscape. While it is made with the Giant Steps gentle winemaking approach, the result is clearly a world apart in terroir. The Pinot Noir from Nocton vineyard
have amazing density and texture, with powerful weight and concentration.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country Australia
Region Coal River Valley
Australian State TAS
Feature Women in Wine
High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
Wine Pilot
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 14%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Giant Steps

Giant Steps is a premium Yarra Valley outfit founded by Phil Sexton and located in the township of Healesville. Beginning with the vision of original head winemaker Steve Flamsteed, Giant Steps developed an international reputation for producing some of Australia's finest examples of single vineyard Pinot Noir & Chardonnay.

In 2021 the exceptionally talented Melanie Chester joined the team as the new head of winemaking and viticulture, marking an exciting new chapter in this elite producer's story.

Every aspect of the Giant Steps process is geared towards making truly world-class wines from the vineyard to the final bottled wine. The focus is on what the Yarra does best - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz/Syrah and Bordeaux-variety blends - and showcasing the unique terroirs of some of the region's finest vineyards.

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