Description
Applejack is best known as one of the Yarra's great Pinot Noir sites, so the Chardonnay tends to fly under the radar. It shouldn't.
The site sits on dramatically close-planted east-facing slopes in Gladysdale at up to 320 metres, on grey clay loam over black basalt, planted by Ray Guerin in 1997. The Chardonnay parcel is just 1.8 hectares, and typically yields only around six barrels. It's one of the most limited wines Giant Steps makes, and one of the most exciting.
Handpicked and whole-bunch pressed, the juice was transferred straight to barrel by gravity with no settling and full lees. Wild fermented in 500L French puncheons. No batonnage, no malolactic fermentation, 12% new oak for nine months.
The result is pure, tense and mineral. Lemon, white peach, cedar, a touch of flint and a thread of lactose through the middle. Fine-boned acidity that runs all the way through a long, precise finish. Mattinson calls it "Chardonnay for Chardonnay lovers" and says it's on a mission. He's not wrong.
96 points
"It’s a beauty. Pure, long, showing a little more flint than usual, all line and length in general but with a bit of extra punch and flare on top... Fantastic wine. Compelling. Intense. On a mission."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)
96+ points
"The palate is equally restrained, with a lovely fine vein of acidity that runs through the wine. Finishes long and precise. An Applejack that can be enjoyed now and over the next five to seven years."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)
| Price Bracket | $51 to $100 |
| Type | White |
| Body | Full Bodied |
| Variety | Chardonnay |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Yarra Valley |
| Australian State | VIC |
| Reviewed By |
Halliday Wine Companion The Wine Front |
| Critic Score |
96 |
| Alcohol | 13% |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2025 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
Giant Steps
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Common Questions
Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.
For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.
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We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.
To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you.
If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.
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No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.
Most wine retailers list at a single-bottle price and then discount 10–15% when you buy six or twelve. We've taken the opposite approach. Since the overwhelming majority of our orders are already 6 bottles or more, our list price is set for the case buyer from the start. There's no inflated single-bottle price to discount down from.
What that means for you:
- One price, same for everyone — no minimum to hit to unlock the best rate
- No mixed-six gymnastics to qualify for a discount
- Our single-bottle price is typically at or below a traditional retailer's by-the-dozen rate
Put simply: the box discount is already baked into the price.
**And if you find it cheaper elsewhere?** Let us know. If the same wine is available at a lower price at another retailer (including at their mixed-six or by-the-dozen rate) we're happy to match it.
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