2023 Giant Steps Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir 750ml

Vintage Notes:   
The 2023 vintage in the Yarra Valley was notable for its small yet exceptional harvest. A cool spring, mild growing conditions, cool nights, and moderate to high rainfall defined the season. This was one of the region’s coolest and latest harvests on record, with picking beginning over two weeks later than usual. The grapes from 2023 exhibited excellent fruit concentration and naturally bright acidity.

Vineyard Notes:   
Location: Woori Yallock  
Planted: 2001  
Elevation: 240 meters  
Soil Type: Red clay loam  
Aspect: North and northeast-facing slopes    

Lou Primavera established the vineyard in Hoddles Creek in 2001 after discovering Yarra Valley wines 25 years prior. Giant Steps has sourced fruit from this site since 2006. The vineyard, known for producing fragrant, floral Pinot Noir with red fruit characteristics and a soft, sweet profile, has two slopes with different clones—MV6 on the northern slope and 115 and G-clone on the southern slope.

Winemaking:   
The grapes were handpicked and fermented in a mix of small oak fermenters and stainless steel open vats. Each clone was handled separately, with either 100% whole bunches or 100% destemmed fruit. The MV6 clone was fermented as whole bunches in seasoned oak, while the 115 and G-clone underwent a cold soak and were fermented as whole berries. Fermentation lasted 10-14 days, with gentle mixing, and 15% of the blend involved whole bunch fermentation. The wine then matured in French oak barriques (20% new) for nine months, remaining on its lees until blending, with no fining or filtration before bottling.