The Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2021 is a highly regarded wine from one of Australia's renowned wineries in the Yarra Valley. This particular vintage has gained popularity among wine enthusiasts and has become a crowd favorite for its exceptional quality and expression of the Yarra Valley terroir.
6 x Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2021 ~ Yarra Valley, Australia
96/100 Philip Rich Halliday Wine Companion 94/100 Wine Spectator 93/100 Gary Walsh The Wine Front 92/100 Stuart Knox 92/100 Decanter World Wine Awards 95/100 Jane Faulkner (2020 vinatge) 93/100 Wine Enthusiast (2020 vintage) 92/100 The Wine Front (2020 vintage) 92/100 Wine Spectator (2020 vintage) 92/100 Decanter World Wine Awards (2020 vintage) 90/100 Huon Hooke (2020 vintage) 95/100 Nick's Wine Merchants (2019 vintage) 94/100 Toni Patterson MW (2018 vintage) 94/100 Huon Hooke (2018 vintage) 94/100 Wine Spectator (2018 Vintage) 93/100 James Suckling (2017 Vintage) 94/100 Steve Leszczynski (2017 Vintage) 97/100 James Halliday (2017 Vintage) 96/100 - Top Pinot Noir Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Top rated Pinot Noir - Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023 Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 Bronze - International Wine Challenge
“Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2023 - Shortlisted. Ranked Top 8”.
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Phillip Rich "A very bright, light–medium crimson red. A gentle waft of fresh raspberries and cranberries, with just the right amount of spice-rack spices. Delicious right out of the gate, this medium-bodied and refreshing wine will age well too. The perfect introduction to modern Yarra pinot. "
Halliday Wine Companion, Philip Rich "This newly released 2021 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir follows in the footsteps of recent vintages of this wine that have proved hugely popular. A very bright, light–medium crimson red. A gentle waft of fresh raspberries and cranberries, with just the right amount of spice-rack spices. Delicious right out of the gate, this medium-bodied and refreshing wine will age well too. The perfect introduction to modern Yarra pinot." (2021 vintage)
Wine Spectator "Stunning, with terrific focus and intensity to the core of Earl Grey tea, firm, juicy cherry, raspberry and white pepper flavors. Notes of clove and green cardamom linger on the finish, with a touch of salted caramel."
Stuart Knox "Bright cherry-red colour. Red cherry and a hint of struck flint on the nose. Palate has a similar fruit profile, dried herbs and cured meat notes bring complexity and character. Good length and the structural elements stay in harmony from start to finish."
The Wine Front, Gary Walsh "Red fruit, spice, a little pepper, something of a blood orange/Campari character too. It’s slightly sappy, red cherry and spiced strawberry, again that blood orange flavour and some savoury ‘autumnal’ character. Tannin has light emery grip, and the finish is juicy/sweet/sour and slightly bitter, offering solid length. Good drink. Better again with a little more time in bottle."
Jane Faulkner "This hums a mighty fine tune. Starting light and bright with raspberries, red cherries, star anise and a fleck of woodsy spices. It seems almost pretty until the savouriness kicks in. A touch of meaty reduction, lots of tangy acidity, with textural tannins working across a medium-bodied palate. It delivers plenty of flavour, yet it's all well contained." (2020 vintage)
Wine Spectator "Vibrant, expressive and spicy, with fresh raspberry, cherry and pomegranate flavors, and notes of toasted cumin, cardamom, sage and dried orange zest that linger on the finish, where details of loam emerge. Drink now through 2035. 8,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported." (2020 vintage)
Huon Hooke "Bright, medium to deep red/purple colour. The bouquet is subdued but dominated at first sniff by sulfides. Dominant smoked smallgoods. The palate is light to middle-weight, with a clasp of firm tannins that grips the finish. Dark cherry emerges with time in the glass. The flavour pulls up a tad short, leaving the tannin. Unclear where this is headed, but I'd give it a bit more time" (2020 vintage)
Decanter "A low-yielding vintage but one which resulted in great concentration and acidity. Vinification was much the same as for the 2019 vintage: 40% whole-bunch fruit was used, with no fining and filtering and racking and bottling done by gravity. Though here the eight months' maturation was in a mix of barriques (10% new) and 4,000-litre oak vats. As with the Chardonnay, it's blend of various parcels that just miss out on being part of the single-vineyard wines: here Sexton (giving ripe cherry fruit), Applejack (a distinctive bitter orange Campari note), Tarraford (mocha and cocoa earthiness) and Primavera (floral perfume). A crunchy, delicate, quaffable Pinot packed with succulent cherries, savoury autumnal notes, soft acidity and gentle spice." (2020 vintage)
The Wine Front, Gary Walsh “Not sure what happened to the 2019 vintage. We must have missed it. Anyway, here we are. A blend of Sexton, Applejack, Primavera, Tarraford Vineyards, with 40% whole bunch and 10% new oak. Small yields, high quality, is the message from the winery. Aromatic and spicy, charred red capsicum and red fruit, subtle biscuity oak. Bright, energetic, fine emery tannin, a slight smokiness to taste, fresh raspberries, soft but sure grip on a long finish. Light, but with a fair bit of concentration and extract. Easy to enjoy.” (2020 vintage)
Huon Hooke “Light to medium, bright red/purple colour, with a wonderfully fragrant, aromatic nose of spicy red and dark cherry. There’s a subtle hint of Campari in the aroma and aftertaste which comes from the whole-berry and whole-bunch fermenting techniques. It’s light to medium-bodied yet very intense, with penetrating flavour, line and length. The tannins are light and fine yet quite present. An utterly delicious wine and a great follow-up to the outstanding 2017. And like that wine, amazing value for money. The aromatics are quintessential Yarra Valley pinot noir.” (2018 vintage)
Toni Patterson MW “An open and fleshy wine with pure red fruits and gentle savouriness. The fruit is intense, though not over-fruity and the tannin frame is elegant and appropriate. Impressive flavour depth.” (2018 vintage)
Wine Spectator "Elegant and distinctive, offering fresh raspberry, sage and white pepper notes that are precise, supple and juicy, with a thread of fresh loam and forest floor, supported by polished tannins. A touch of matcha green tea lingers on the finish. Drink now through 2033. 350 cases imported. —MW" (2018 Vintage)
James Suckling “A complex and satisfying pinot that merges an array of fruits, from strawberries and raspberries to cherries and plums. Dressed in fragrant red perfume and attractive oak spice, the wine also shows some earthiness. An effortless palate that blossoms with airy, fleshy flavors of pinot fruit. You barely notice the web of fine silky tannins below the deck. Drink now.” (2017 Vintage)
Different Drop "The most sought-after of the excellent 2017 Giant Steps excellent Pinot Noirs." (2017 Vintage)
The Wine Front, Mike Bennie “Giant Steps is at top of their game. Such elegance, and, importantly, an incredible sense of energy in the wine. Now we can use the word outstanding. Acid driven, light and fragrant style, has that sense of sleekness from fine pinot tannins yet is tightly wound, coiled and precise as it rolls through the palate. Red currants, cranberry, smoke, and sweet earth to sniff on. Savoury edged red fruit to taste. Balanced, lithe, very finely wrought." (2017 Vintage)
James Halliday "Like all the Giant Steps Pinots, not fined or filtered. Light, bright crimson-purple; red flowers and fruits with a continuous whole bunch-shot text of savoury, earthy, foresty notes threaded through the red fruits." (2017 Vintage)
Handpicked grapes grown in Yarra Valley and Central Otago vineyards, minimal intervention winemaking at their gravity flow winery in Healesville, one hour east of Melbourne. Wine packaged in Australia from 91.5% Australian grapes and 8.5% New Zealand grapes.
Giant Steps is a privately owned, estate based, Yarra Valley grower and winemaker. Giant Steps has forged a reputation for delivering some of Australia’s most consistent, over-performing, varietal wines. These wines have received global acclaim and established a strong reputation in restaurants and fine wine stores around the world. Since 2003 Giant Steps wines have collectively been awarded 19 trophies and over 50 gold medals at major international and domestic wine shows and has been named one of the Top 100 Wineries in the World by Wine & Spirits Magazine, US for each of the last three years.
Founder Phil Sexton came to wine via beer. He started Little Creatures, a favourite of Aussie hopheads, in Perth (Western Australia).
Yarra Valley is an Australian wine region with a cool climate, best known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Yarra Valley is an hour’s drive east of Melbourne.
Pinot Noir is the dominant red wine grape of Burgundy, now produced in wine regions all over the world, including western Germany, northern Italy, Chile, South Africa, Australia and, perhaps most notably, California, Oregon and New Zealand.
The essence of Pinot Noir wine is its aroma of strawberry and cherry (fresh red cherries in lighter wines and stewed black cherries in weightier examples), underpinned in the most complex examples by hints of forest floor. Well-built Pinot Noirs, particularly from warmer harvests, also exhibit notes of leather and violets, sometimes approaching the flavor spectrum of Syrah.
The Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2021 is a highly regarded wine from one of Australia's renowned wineries in the Yarra Valley. This particular vintage has gained popularity among wine enthusiasts and has become a crowd favorite for its exceptional quality and expression of the Yarra Valley terroir.
6 x Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2021 ~ Yarra Valley, Australia
96/100 Philip Rich Halliday Wine Companion 94/100 Wine Spectator 93/100 Gary Walsh The Wine Front 92/100 Stuart Knox 92/100 Decanter World Wine Awards 95/100 Jane Faulkner (2020 vinatge) 93/100 Wine Enthusiast (2020 vintage) 92/100 The Wine Front (2020 vintage) 92/100 Wine Spectator (2020 vintage) 92/100 Decanter World Wine Awards (2020 vintage) 90/100 Huon Hooke (2020 vintage) 95/100 Nick's Wine Merchants (2019 vintage) 94/100 Toni Patterson MW (2018 vintage) 94/100 Huon Hooke (2018 vintage) 94/100 Wine Spectator (2018 Vintage) 93/100 James Suckling (2017 Vintage) 94/100 Steve Leszczynski (2017 Vintage) 97/100 James Halliday (2017 Vintage) 96/100 - Top Pinot Noir Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Top rated Pinot Noir - Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023 Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 Bronze - International Wine Challenge
“Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2023 - Shortlisted. Ranked Top 8”.
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Phillip Rich "A very bright, light–medium crimson red. A gentle waft of fresh raspberries and cranberries, with just the right amount of spice-rack spices. Delicious right out of the gate, this medium-bodied and refreshing wine will age well too. The perfect introduction to modern Yarra pinot. "
Halliday Wine Companion, Philip Rich "This newly released 2021 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir follows in the footsteps of recent vintages of this wine that have proved hugely popular. A very bright, light–medium crimson red. A gentle waft of fresh raspberries and cranberries, with just the right amount of spice-rack spices. Delicious right out of the gate, this medium-bodied and refreshing wine will age well too. The perfect introduction to modern Yarra pinot." (2021 vintage)
Wine Spectator "Stunning, with terrific focus and intensity to the core of Earl Grey tea, firm, juicy cherry, raspberry and white pepper flavors. Notes of clove and green cardamom linger on the finish, with a touch of salted caramel."
Stuart Knox "Bright cherry-red colour. Red cherry and a hint of struck flint on the nose. Palate has a similar fruit profile, dried herbs and cured meat notes bring complexity and character. Good length and the structural elements stay in harmony from start to finish."
The Wine Front, Gary Walsh "Red fruit, spice, a little pepper, something of a blood orange/Campari character too. It’s slightly sappy, red cherry and spiced strawberry, again that blood orange flavour and some savoury ‘autumnal’ character. Tannin has light emery grip, and the finish is juicy/sweet/sour and slightly bitter, offering solid length. Good drink. Better again with a little more time in bottle."
Jane Faulkner "This hums a mighty fine tune. Starting light and bright with raspberries, red cherries, star anise and a fleck of woodsy spices. It seems almost pretty until the savouriness kicks in. A touch of meaty reduction, lots of tangy acidity, with textural tannins working across a medium-bodied palate. It delivers plenty of flavour, yet it's all well contained." (2020 vintage)
Wine Spectator "Vibrant, expressive and spicy, with fresh raspberry, cherry and pomegranate flavors, and notes of toasted cumin, cardamom, sage and dried orange zest that linger on the finish, where details of loam emerge. Drink now through 2035. 8,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported." (2020 vintage)
Huon Hooke "Bright, medium to deep red/purple colour. The bouquet is subdued but dominated at first sniff by sulfides. Dominant smoked smallgoods. The palate is light to middle-weight, with a clasp of firm tannins that grips the finish. Dark cherry emerges with time in the glass. The flavour pulls up a tad short, leaving the tannin. Unclear where this is headed, but I'd give it a bit more time" (2020 vintage)
Decanter "A low-yielding vintage but one which resulted in great concentration and acidity. Vinification was much the same as for the 2019 vintage: 40% whole-bunch fruit was used, with no fining and filtering and racking and bottling done by gravity. Though here the eight months' maturation was in a mix of barriques (10% new) and 4,000-litre oak vats. As with the Chardonnay, it's blend of various parcels that just miss out on being part of the single-vineyard wines: here Sexton (giving ripe cherry fruit), Applejack (a distinctive bitter orange Campari note), Tarraford (mocha and cocoa earthiness) and Primavera (floral perfume). A crunchy, delicate, quaffable Pinot packed with succulent cherries, savoury autumnal notes, soft acidity and gentle spice." (2020 vintage)
The Wine Front, Gary Walsh “Not sure what happened to the 2019 vintage. We must have missed it. Anyway, here we are. A blend of Sexton, Applejack, Primavera, Tarraford Vineyards, with 40% whole bunch and 10% new oak. Small yields, high quality, is the message from the winery. Aromatic and spicy, charred red capsicum and red fruit, subtle biscuity oak. Bright, energetic, fine emery tannin, a slight smokiness to taste, fresh raspberries, soft but sure grip on a long finish. Light, but with a fair bit of concentration and extract. Easy to enjoy.” (2020 vintage)
Huon Hooke “Light to medium, bright red/purple colour, with a wonderfully fragrant, aromatic nose of spicy red and dark cherry. There’s a subtle hint of Campari in the aroma and aftertaste which comes from the whole-berry and whole-bunch fermenting techniques. It’s light to medium-bodied yet very intense, with penetrating flavour, line and length. The tannins are light and fine yet quite present. An utterly delicious wine and a great follow-up to the outstanding 2017. And like that wine, amazing value for money. The aromatics are quintessential Yarra Valley pinot noir.” (2018 vintage)
Toni Patterson MW “An open and fleshy wine with pure red fruits and gentle savouriness. The fruit is intense, though not over-fruity and the tannin frame is elegant and appropriate. Impressive flavour depth.” (2018 vintage)
Wine Spectator "Elegant and distinctive, offering fresh raspberry, sage and white pepper notes that are precise, supple and juicy, with a thread of fresh loam and forest floor, supported by polished tannins. A touch of matcha green tea lingers on the finish. Drink now through 2033. 350 cases imported. —MW" (2018 Vintage)
James Suckling “A complex and satisfying pinot that merges an array of fruits, from strawberries and raspberries to cherries and plums. Dressed in fragrant red perfume and attractive oak spice, the wine also shows some earthiness. An effortless palate that blossoms with airy, fleshy flavors of pinot fruit. You barely notice the web of fine silky tannins below the deck. Drink now.” (2017 Vintage)
Different Drop "The most sought-after of the excellent 2017 Giant Steps excellent Pinot Noirs." (2017 Vintage)
The Wine Front, Mike Bennie “Giant Steps is at top of their game. Such elegance, and, importantly, an incredible sense of energy in the wine. Now we can use the word outstanding. Acid driven, light and fragrant style, has that sense of sleekness from fine pinot tannins yet is tightly wound, coiled and precise as it rolls through the palate. Red currants, cranberry, smoke, and sweet earth to sniff on. Savoury edged red fruit to taste. Balanced, lithe, very finely wrought." (2017 Vintage)
James Halliday "Like all the Giant Steps Pinots, not fined or filtered. Light, bright crimson-purple; red flowers and fruits with a continuous whole bunch-shot text of savoury, earthy, foresty notes threaded through the red fruits." (2017 Vintage)
Handpicked grapes grown in Yarra Valley and Central Otago vineyards, minimal intervention winemaking at their gravity flow winery in Healesville, one hour east of Melbourne. Wine packaged in Australia from 91.5% Australian grapes and 8.5% New Zealand grapes.
Giant Steps is a privately owned, estate based, Yarra Valley grower and winemaker. Giant Steps has forged a reputation for delivering some of Australia’s most consistent, over-performing, varietal wines. These wines have received global acclaim and established a strong reputation in restaurants and fine wine stores around the world. Since 2003 Giant Steps wines have collectively been awarded 19 trophies and over 50 gold medals at major international and domestic wine shows and has been named one of the Top 100 Wineries in the World by Wine & Spirits Magazine, US for each of the last three years.
Founder Phil Sexton came to wine via beer. He started Little Creatures, a favourite of Aussie hopheads, in Perth (Western Australia).
Yarra Valley is an Australian wine region with a cool climate, best known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Yarra Valley is an hour’s drive east of Melbourne.
Pinot Noir is the dominant red wine grape of Burgundy, now produced in wine regions all over the world, including western Germany, northern Italy, Chile, South Africa, Australia and, perhaps most notably, California, Oregon and New Zealand.
The essence of Pinot Noir wine is its aroma of strawberry and cherry (fresh red cherries in lighter wines and stewed black cherries in weightier examples), underpinned in the most complex examples by hints of forest floor. Well-built Pinot Noirs, particularly from warmer harvests, also exhibit notes of leather and violets, sometimes approaching the flavor spectrum of Syrah.
