Giant Steps ‘Applejack Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2017

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

“I reckon a really good year for Applejack”, says winemaker Steve Flamsteed, “rain came every ten days and just kind of kept everything very fresh”.

The 2017 Giant Steps Season

2017 was a textbook cool climate vintage. The preceding winter was cool to cold (good vine dormancy) with good rainfall and ground saturation as the valley moved into spring. The growing season was characterized by intermittent rainfall with otherwise cool to mild days, bright sunshine and importantly, no temperature peaks. As a result, all varieties enjoyed slower ripening where acids, sugar and flavour stayed well in-sync. The resulting wines have terrific structure and detail, underpinned by crisp natural acidity and bright fruit.

Vinification

Hand-picked without additions.
40% (D2V5 and D5V15 clones) were transferred as whole bunches to small oak and stainless steel open vats. The remainder (MV6 clone) was destemmed and transferred as whole berries to the fermenters.
Fermentations were indigenous and left alone with little cap work, relying upon carbonic maceration for extraction.
Pressed at dryness to new and used 228L tight grain French barriques for 10 months – 25% new, 75% older.
Bottled by gravity with no fining or filtration.
Made without animal products.

Applejack Vineyard

Applejack Vineyard was planted in 1997 by highly respected viticulturist Ray Guerin Today it is meticulously managed by his son Mark. Applejack Vineyard is situated in the Upper Yarra Valley, to the south-east of the traditional valley floor. The higher altitudes result in cooler growing conditions – ideal for Pinot Noir. Applejack Vineyard is located on a dramatic, north-east-facing slope with close-planted vines. This vineyard was purchased by Phil Sexton in 2013.

Location: GladysdaleElevation: 300 metres
Aspect: East facing
Size: 29 acres
Planted: 1997
Soil type: Grey / brown clay loam