Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

From one of the Yarra's most renowned vineyards, on steep loam and clay slopes in the Warramate Ranges, this vintage of Sexton again proves a sublimely classy bottling. Layered and bright aromas of preserved lemon, melon and fresh cream, strewn with flower petals and softly framed by toasty oak open. The mouth-watering, citrusy acidity and silky texture work seamlessly together, supported by the fine-grained oak, with a long lemon-curd finish. Harmonious and elegant without shying away from structure and age-worthiness. Points: 95/100

Wine Enthusiast ∙ 2nd Jan 2023

A rich and textural chardonnay with tons of ripe pear fruit and floral complexity. On the concentrated palate this has a serious tannin structure and a bright mineral acidity that interlocks very neatly. Long, generous and complete finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap. Points: 95/100

jamessuckling.com ∙ 12th Oct 2022

Pure and focused, with a laser beam of lemon meringue, fleshy mandarin orange and orange sherbet showing incredible intensity and concentration. This remains light on its feet and focused, thanks to fresh acidity, with details of matcha and dried apricot for extra dimension on the finish. Drink now through 2027. Points: 94/100

Wine Spectator ∙ 5th Oct 2022

Made mainly from WA's Gingin clone and planted in Gruyere on the same grey clay as Applejack. Whole bunches pressed into French puncheons with 20% new oak. Smells tightly wound and concentrated with aromas of ripe peach and nectarine, together with just a hint of lanolin and apple custard. Equally powerful and punchy on the palate. This has more of everything, including sprightly acid and some phenolic grip on the very long, stone-fruit pithy finish. Today, this is my pick of the 4 single-vineyard 2021 chardonnays, but who knows what will come out on top in 5 or even 10 years from now! Points: 97/100

James Halliday Wine Companion 2023 ∙ 3rd Aug 2022

Citrus here and red apple, with pear, the citrus both pure juice and preserved. Oak spice, and custard powder characters, are so well threaded, ginger nut/biscuit aspects rising through the finish. World apart from the Tarraford; perfect pigeon pair. The longer it sat in the glass the more those complex, juicy, apple-like characters blossomed, marzipan with them, nectarines squeezed with salted lemons. This is a wine of tight, complex power, the fruit pure and commanding, the finish taut but persistent. Points: 95/100

The Wine Front ∙ 28th Jun 2022

A trace of smoky, toasted timber leads into a restrained and quite delicate wine with properly dry balance and some length. It looks to need a bit more time. Refreshing lemony finish. Tense and coiled and ready to unfold more in time. Points: 94/100

The Real Review ∙ 10th Jun 2022

Made mainly from WA's Gingin clone and planted in Gruyere on the same grey clay as Applejack. Whole bunches pressed into French puncheons with 20% new oak. Smells tightly wound and concentrated with aromas of ripe peach and nectarine, together with just a hint of lanolin and apple custard. Equally powerful and punchy on the palate. This has more of everything, including sprightly acid and some phenolic grip on the very long, stone-fruit pithy finish. Today, this is my pick of the 4 single-vineyard 2021 chardonnays, but who knows what will come out on top in 5 or even 10 years from now! Points: 97/100

Halliday Wine Companion ∙ 16th May 2022