Name: Giant Steps Chardonnay Wombat Creek Vineyard 2022 750ml
Brand: Giant Steps
SKU: 967014
Price: 85.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 94 (3 reviews)

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Winery

Giant Steps

Shop all from Giant Steps

Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.

Country

Australia

Whilst most of Australia consists of arid deserts and dense bushland, the oceanic coasts to the south of the country have a terrain and climate ideal for vine cultivation and wine production. It took several decades of failed attempts at the end of the 18th century in order to produce vines of a decent enough quality for making wine, but since those first false starts, the Australian wine industry has continued to grow and grow. Today, wine production makes up for a considerable part of the Australian economy, with exports in recent years reaching unprecedented levels and even overtaking France for the first time ever. Whilst the greatest successes in regards to quality have been the result of the Syrah grape varietal (known locally as Shiraz), Australia utilizes several Old World grapes, and has had fantastic results from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay and more. As the Australian passion for locally produced wine continues to develop, wineries have begun experimenting with a wider range of grape varietals, meaning that nowadays it isn't uncommon to find high quality Australian wines made from Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Viognier, amongst many others.

Region

Victoria

The Australian region of Victoria is the country's most historically significant wine region, with vine cultivation and wine production going on there since the mid 19th century. In those times, Victoria produced over half of all Australia's wines. However, today, despite having a huge number of wineries, Victoria has begun to focus on quality over quantity – many of the six hundred wineries based in this region produce wines made from lesser known grape varietals, often producing fascinating wines full of character, but made from vines with far lower yields and a considerably smaller audience. Today, most of the viticulture in Victoria takes place near the cool, coastal region around Melbourne. However, recent years have seen irrigation projects help wine makers grow vines in the more arid parts of the region, with a wide range of grapes now being grown.

Appellation

Port Phillip

WA 94pts

Wine Advocate

This Wombat Creek Vineyard is farmed organically and is at the top of the mountain in Gladysdale, Yarra Valley (420 meters in elevation). In cool years such as 2022, organic management can be challenging, but the vineyard is on the way to certification. The 2022 Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay ended up being just half the volume of the Wombat Creek Vineyard (four puncheons, which is nothing new, as opposed to eight puncheons in the Applejack) and was taken out of oak four weeks earlier than the other cuvées. Only one of these Wombat Creek puncheons went through malolactic fermentation (i.e., 25% overall). The 2022 Wombat Creek Vineyard Chardonnay leads with a dusty, rocky, spicy nose layered with sandalwood, lemongrass, lemon pith and brine. In the mouth, the wine is tense and full; it's loaded with flavor and texture. The phenolics have a glassy texture through the mid-palate onward, and the vineyard is planted to I10V1 with a little bit of clone 76. This is a lovely wine. It is fleshy and sapid. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

JS 94pts

James Suckling

Discreet and a little more subdued than its siblings. The highest vineyard in the Yarra. Despite being gently mid-weighted with lower alcohol, this feels softer and looser at the seams, while still typically intense. Bitter almond, lemon zest, nectarine and pistachio accents roll across a skein of tangerine freshness and cinnamon oak. Oatmeal lees at the core. The finish is exceptionally long and effusive of energy. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

VM 94pts

Vinous Media

The generously proportioned 2022 Chardonnay Womat Creek Vineyard delivers rich veins of nicely focused aromas, with a strong core of hazelnut supported by nectarine and spicy, well integrated oak. Full-bodied and flavorsome, it possesses an underlying firm, drying acidity, topped by gentle stony nuances and subtle smoky tones. A finely tuned and embryonic finish is icing on this cake.

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Giant Steps Chardonnay Wombat Creek Vineyard 2022 750ml