Giant Steps Wombat Creek Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

From the highest-altitude vineyard in the Yarra on volcanic loam soils, Wombat Creek really walks to its own beat. The lemony vibrancy typical to Chardonnay in this region is present, but here it's more like the whole lemon (flesh, rind, juice)—round, fleshy and pithy. There are white orchard blossoms, nashi pear and minerally, saline characters. The palate is tightly structured, yet beautifully balanced, walking a tightrope of power and delicacy. It's chalky, even a bit yeasty, with a round shape, mineral acidity, and a long lemon-flower-chalk finish. A complex, fine Chardonnay for drinking now and likely through this decade. Points: 95/100

Wine Enthusiast ∙ 2nd Jan 2023

A beautiful cool climate chardonnay with cooked apples, lemons and lime aromas and plenty of flint. Lovely marriage of creaminess and very elegant acidity. Long silky finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap. Points: 94/100

jamessuckling.com ∙ 13th Oct 2022

Starts off with a core of Fuji apple and pear flavors, expanding to details of salted caramel, marmalade and orange zest, which show savory details of sesame seed and toasted herb that linger. Vibrant acidity keeps the flavors fresh. Drink now. Points: 93/100

Wine Spectator ∙ 5th Oct 2022

From the marginal Wombat Creek vineyard planted at around 400m elevation in the early 1980s. Whole-bunch pressed to French puncheons (15% new). A very bright green gold. At the cooler end of the chardonnay fruit spectrum, with its aromas of pear skin, ruby red grapefruit, almond meal and lightly grilled cashew. Tightly wound, the palate is richer than the nose suggests, with some fresh apricot and nectarines. Concentrated but structured, this has the potential to improve over the next 5–10 years. Points: 93/100

James Halliday Wine Companion 2023 ∙ 3rd Aug 2022

Complex aromas of grilled nuts, grapefruit pith, just-ripe white peach, white flowers and nougat. Mouthfilling, textured and layered, with plenty of pithy citrus, nectarine, yogurt, cream and nougat. There’s a lovely line of acidity and a lick of phenolic grip bringing shape and presence. Points: 95/100

The Real Review ∙ 15th Jul 2022

Great push of musk, fennel and red apple flavour before toasted peach and vanilla characters power through. Incredibly intricate wine, perfumed, powerful, long, textural/grippy, gently creamy, and then when you think it’s finished, a peppery/herbal spray to the aftertaste. You can see the oak on this but it absolutely carries it; of all the 2021 releases it’s the one most in need of extra time for the sake of pure oak integration. But we have another super wine on our hands here. Points: 95/100

The Wine Front ∙ 28th Jun 2022