2025 Giant Steps Coal River Pinot Noir

95 pts
Giant Steps ventures south for this Coal River Valley release - denser and more structured than their Yarra wines, with real cellar potential.

Price:
Sale price$105.00
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In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Just about as far south as you can go in Australian Pinot. Giant Steps' Coal River Valley release comes from the Nocton Vineyard in Tasmania - northeast-facing, on calcareous and Triassic sandstone soils, with long daylight hours that push the fruit into a completely different register to the Yarra releases. Darker, denser, more concentrated. Same grape, different planet.

The fruit was handpicked and shipped across Bass Strait in refrigerated conditions, arriving at the winery in great shape. Cold soaked for three to four days in open oak vats, then into French oak - 21% new, the rest seasoned - for eight months. Bottled by gravity, no fining, no filtration.

In the glass it's brooding and layered - dark cherry, blackberry, bramble, white and black pepper, with a distinctive mineral, ferrous thread that feels very much of its place. The tannins are compact and fine-grained, and while it's already expressive, this is a wine that will cellar very well for 6-10 years.

A brilliant outlier in the Giant Steps range, and one of the more exciting Tasmanian Pinots being made right now.

95+ points
"A little bit more structure, a little more bass and fruit-grunt perhaps, the same polish, the same excellence... Brilliant."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

95+ points
"Concentrated with dark cherry, blackberry, white and black pepper and a little crushed violet."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

 


95+ points - "From a vineyard planted in '99 in the Coal River Valley; 100% destemmed, 25% new oak. A deep crimson purple. Concentrated with dark cherry, blackberry, white and black pepper and a little crushed violet. The palate is compact and dense with firm, balanced tannins, creating a muscular wine that will reward at least six to 10 years in the cellar." - Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion

95+ points - "Giant Steps’ Coal River Valley Pinot Noir is from the Nocton vineyard, planted in 1999.
A little bit more structure, a little more bass and fruit-grunt perhaps, the same polish, the same excellence. I’m not sure how people view Giant Steps’ Tasmanian outcrop – I’m tempted to say that it’s anti the Giant Steps brand but then, Giant Steps has always taken excursions out of its home region – but quality-wise this is right up there with the single vineyard releases from the Yarra. Cherry-plum flavours, florals and herbs, an absolute smidgen of reduction, and immaculate, fine-meshed, mineral-laced tannin. Brilliant." -Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

Customer Reviews

Vineyard Notes
Location: Coal River Valley Aspect: North-east facing Size: 34 Hectares Planted: 1999 Soil type: Calcareous & Triassic sandstone Under vine: Mv6, D5V12 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 has amazing density and texture, with powerful weight and concentration. Blackberries, brambly, blackberry compote, plush, juicy tannins.

Winemaking
Handpicked and transported as fruit in refrigerated conditions by sea and land to our winery in the Yarra Valley. Fruit was destemmed and cold soaked for 3 -4 days in open oak vats and open stainless-steel fermenters. All parcels were matured in French oak – 21% new, 79% seasoned – for eight months in 225L barriques predominately Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé. Bottled by gravity. No fining. No filtration.

Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential
Now - eight years

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country Australia
Region Coal River Valley
Australian State TAS
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
The Wine Front
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 13.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
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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