Giant Steps Fatal Shore Pinot Noir 2020

In 1997 Phil Sexton arrived in the Yarra Valley in search of altitude, aged soils, slopes of exposure, regular rainfall and cool to cold night time temperatures and a gentle breeze off the protecting mountain ranges. Why, because he wanted to grow amazing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fruit to make wines of purity and finesse. Wombat Creek Vineyard is the highest altitude vineyard in the Yarra Valley, making it an ideal location for the production of extreme cool climate wines. The underlying ferrous (red) based volcanic soil and rock produce a distinctively soft yet long and firm palate that contrasts with the finer palates seen from the nearby Applejack Vineyard (basalt based volcanic).

Hand picked, the fruit is then immediately refrigerated and sailed across Bass Strait into the winery the following morning. They destem the D clone and cold soak for 3 – 4 days, then allow it to warm to kick start fermentation (Indigenous yeast) in a small open oak vat. The MV6 from the top of the hill was fermented as whole bunches Both parcels were matured in French oak – 25% new, 75% older – for 8 months in 225L barriques. Racked to blend, no fining, no filtration. Bottled by gravity. Natural acidity across both the clones in the top Pinot blocks was surprisingly high. Fruit was hand sorted in both vineyard and winery.

Fruit from the Coal River Valley in Tassie, but made in the Yarra via the gentle way that defines Giant Steps. Yet the density and power of the place, the fruit intensity, comes through strongly. Dark cherries abound, but so too savoury, umami flavours of soy sauce and dried porcini with meaty reduction and spicy oak adding another layer. Full bodied with shapely tannins and a persuasive finish. A neat counterpoint to the Yarra Valley single-vineyard wines. - Jane Faulkner, James Halliday Wine Companion, 95 Points.

A notably deeper colour than the Giant Steps Yarra pinots, looking more Central Otago than Yarra! The bouquet shows dark fruits rather than red, rich and ripe, with more stemmy whole-bunch overtones than the 2020 Yarra pinots, although they all have about 50% whole-bunch ferments. The wine is medium-bodied and has more weight and tannin than the Yarra wines, finishing with a conclusive grip which is in balance and simply calls for heartier food. It has less perfume and detail but more brawn. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 94 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Coal River Valley, Tasmania
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%