Giant Steps is a complex Pinot Noir with terrific varietal character. The nose shows rose petal, dark cherry and tomato leaf aromas and the palate is fleshy but tight, with savoury, dusty notes and silky tannins.

Giant Steps plays it's part in the rapid accension of Australian Chardonnay back to the position it once held here. That being of the king of white varieties. This is a very stylish numbe from Phil Sexton and his team. Stonefruit, melon and butterscotch characters are supported by vanillin oak and the palate is long and textured with a clean crisp finish.

This 20ha vineyard was planted on red clay loam soil at Woori Yallock in 2001 by Lou Primavera, with whom Giant Steps has a long-standing grape-supply relationship. Pinot Noir (114, MV6 and G8V3 clones) grown here on the north and north east facing slopes at 230m is noted for its complex structure and pronounced perfume. The 114 and MV6 are fermented as whole bunches in open vats, while the G8V3 is destemmed, given a long cold-soak and fermented separately to enhance its aromatic contribution. All ferments use indigenous yeasts and the whole-bunch components are periodically foot-stomped to release additional juice. The wines are pressed to 228 litre, French barriques (about 8% new) for 11 months before blending and bottling without fining or filtration.

Produced from one of the Top 100 Wineries in the World the Giant Steps Pinot Noir is complex with terrific varietal character. With a minimalist approach to winemaking this Yarra Valley favourite oozes elegance and drinkability. Giant Steps is an independent winery in Healesville, Victoria, owned by Phil Sexton. Phil first made his name in establishing some noted micro-breweries, such as Little Creatures, and later established Devils Lair in Margaret River. First released in 2001, Giant Steps focuses exclusively on the distinctive expression of single vineyard sites in the Yarra Valley. Grapes are drawn from estate and leased vineyards, as well as a selection of long-term contracted vineyards. Giant Steps wines are produced fastidiously in the vineyard and vinified with minimal intervention so that each is a faithful expression of site, vintage and culture. Giant Steps focuses on restrained Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and cool climate Cabernet/Merlot blends. These single vineyard wines are sourced from five different vineyards throughout the Yarra, so each is a fingerprint of location and site personality. The name Giant Steps comes in part from Phils love for jazz and John Coltranes album of that same name, and in part due the Giant Step Phil took in relocating with his family from Margaret River to the Yarra Valley. Giant Steps wines are always exclusively single vineyard Yarra Valley wines. They are hand made in small batches using gravity flow principles. Production of the Giant Steps wines is very limited with some vineyards producing as little as 200 cases each vintage some wines are not produced each year if vintage conditions do not allow. These wines are often hard to find in retail outlets as they are mainly sold through the cellar door and through selected restaurants.

Light to medium-bodied, tight-knit with white peach, grapefruit, herb and mealy characters,well-balanced acid and a long fresh finish.

This is the debut release of Circle of Fifths Pinot Noir, a wine that brings together the highlights of Giant Steps’ single vineyards into one smooth and easy-going tune. Like a jazz band having a jam session, Circle of Fifths is all about finding harmony in diversity, creating something complete and balanced that captures the whole Yarra Valley vibe. This 2024 release, crafted by Mel Chester and her crew, who know how to let each vineyard hit its note just right, is a great first album. Fruit from Tarraford, Sexton, Primavera, Applejack, and Bastard Hill vineyards comes together here, each adding a little something to the blend’s overall rhythm. The 42% whole bunch fermentation gives a nice bounce to the red fruit and spice notes, while a touch of oak rounds things out like a steady bassline. It was a classic Yarra season, fresh and bright, with just enough warmth for a juicy finish. Hand-picked, gently handled, and blended with a light touch, this is a Pinot that’s easy to love now but has plenty to say down the line too. Think of it as the jam session after the solos, a wine that’s all about coming together and playing the right notes. 96 points"Along with the chardonnay, this is an exciting new addition to the Giant Steps range. A blend of all the single-vineyard wines and mainly from the vineyards in the Upper Yarra... Concentrated, with far more stuffing that the Yarra Pinot. Ripe, suave tannins ensure this will be worth cellaring for at least five to eight years."- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion) 94+ points"This is complex and well-flavoured but it’s the spread of the finish that sets it apart. It’s an excellent pinot noir... This wine feels as though it’s itching to release yet more complexities; it has that vibe. Time will be kind."- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

This debut release marks an exciting step for Giant Steps and winemaker Mel Chester. With the Circle of Fifths Chardonnay, Mel and the team wanted to capture the character of the Yarra Valley in one glass. Blended from their renowned single vineyards - Tarraford, Sexton, Primavera, Applejack, and Bastard Hill - this wine gives you a snapshot of the season rather than focusing on a single site. It’s made with the same care and precision as the single vineyard wines: whole bunch pressed, wild fermented in French oak puncheons (15% new), and left on full lees until bottling for extra depth and texture. The 2024 season was all about balance - moderate yields, bright acidity, and vibrant fruit. The wine brings together citrus and stone fruit notes, with just a hint of oak spice in the background. It’s a bright, expressive Chardonnay that shows what the Yarra was all about in 2024. 96 points"An exciting new addition to the Giant Steps range, this new blend of all the single-vineyard wines is an absolute cracker and sits very comfortably in the range, both qualitatively and price-wise... By the time this is released in June it should be singing."- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion) 95 points"It’s a killer chardonnay. Direct, powerful, long, potent with mid-palate flavour but searing and complex through the finish... It’s both dramatic and controlled. It tastes and feels like a wine from a producer who is at the top of its game."- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

This superb Pinot Noir shows what heights can be reached when modestly priced wines are produced in outstanding vintages. Expect a red and dark cherry fragrance with a hint of spice. It's light bodied with earthy flavours of red berries delivered with finesses one of the finest producers of the 'Fronsac' appellation. Predominantly Merlot, there's supreme depth of dark fruit, together with the 'polished' structure so synonymous with the 2012 vintage.