{"product_id":"2024-giant-steps-bastard-hill-vineyard-chardonnay","title":"2024 Giant Steps Bastard Hill Vineyard Chardonnay","description":"\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Precise and mineral driven... This will age slowly but surely over the next decade. There's only 200 dozen made in '24...\"\u003cbr\u003e- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBastard Hill may be the most aptly named site in the Yarra. Brutally steep and tough to farm, but it rewards the effort with Chardonnay of rare definition and drive. Originally planted for sparkling in 1986 by Ray Guerin, this is now one of the region’s great cool-climate sites - perched at 300–400m on volcanic loam, tucked deep in Gladysdale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2024 release is only the second under Giant Steps’ stewardship and it’s already clear: this vineyard is a powerhouse. A compressed growing season delivered small bunches and piercing natural acidity. The fruit was whole-bunch pressed to 500L puncheons, where it fermented wild. Only a quarter of the wine went through malo, dialling up tension rather than softening the edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt smells like crushed seashells and citrus pith, with pink grapefruit, green apple skin, and flint in behind. The palate is linear and racy - lemon peel and pear over a mineral core, with just enough texture to flesh it out. It’s razor-sharp, pure, and built for the long haul.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBastard by name, elite by nature. This is a new star in the Giant Steps Chardonnay lineup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/GiantstepsVineyardmap_PNG_1024x1024_3bc85611-5d0c-482e-8555-12f6a95f35c9.jpg?v=1754281827\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Giant Steps","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41945739984939,"sku":"2024 Giant Steps Bastard Hill Vineyard Chardonnay","price":89.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2023GiantStepsBastardHillVineyardChardonnay_1.png?v=1754282006","url":"https:\/\/www.differentdrop.com\/products\/2024-giant-steps-bastard-hill-vineyard-chardonnay","provider":"Different Drop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}