{"product_id":"2025-giant-steps-bastard-hill-vineyard-chardonnay","title":"2025 Giant Steps Bastard Hill Vineyard Chardonnay","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaximum 3 bottles per customer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBastard Hill is, by now, widely regarded as one of Australia's great Chardonnay sites. That's a big call for a vineyard originally planted for sparkling wine back in 1986, but Ray Guerin knew what he was doing when he chose these steep volcanic loam slopes in Gladysdale. At up to 400 metres, it's dramatically cooler than the valley floor. Giant Steps picks it a full month after sites like Sexton and Tarraford.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe 2025 season's wet winter and warm dry spring delivered another compressed harvest, but Bastard Hill doesn't rush. Fruit was handpicked, whole-bunch pressed and transferred to 500L French puncheons by gravity without settling. No malolactic fermentation. Nine months in used French oak (17% new). Simple, precise, hands-off.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCrushed rock, nashi pear, ruby grapefruit and orange blossom on the nose, then grapefruit, white peach, almond butter and a persistent thread of brine through the palate. Pure and precise, with a saline acid line that gives it real length and structure. There's a chalky, talc-like quality in the finish that's genuinely special. Approachable now but built to age effortlessly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eIt's the third Chardonnay Giant Steps has made from this vineyard, and both reviewers say it's the best yet. We concur - a stunning modern Australian Chardonnay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The most complete wine yet released under the Giant Steps Bastard Hill name; which is saying something. Intensity, length, texture and X-factor are all so beautifully realised here.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e98 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This is the third and best wine Giant Steps has made from this cool site... A special wine that will age effortlessly over the next decade.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8wWTC6WSVAc?si=yyz7E0kVzk2LS-K4\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \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":44894384029739,"sku":"2025 Giant Steps Bastard Hill Vineyard Chardonnay","price":95.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2023GiantStepsBastardHillVineyardChardonnay_1_302ba36e-c3a5-46de-977a-5f189ba46c3f.png?v=1787288571","url":"https:\/\/www.differentdrop.com\/products\/2025-giant-steps-bastard-hill-vineyard-chardonnay","provider":"Different Drop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}