The hits just keep coming for Giant Steps, with the iconic Yarra Valley producer taking out WINERY OF THE YEAR and BEST PINOT NOIR (Applejack 2023) at the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. The coveted yet scarce new wines from the Bastard Hill vineyard also scored an impressive 97 and 98 points at their debut. Best Pinot Noir winner, the Applejack Pinot Noir is an indisputable benchmark for the kind of quality Pinot that the Yarra Valley can produce. This is the second year in a row that Giant Steps Applejack Pinot Noir has taken out top Pinot Noir at 98 points (2022 and now 2023). Clearly, they are onto something!
‘It’s always a special moment when a wine wins its category two years in a row. It’s not just an achievement, it’s a revelation.’ – Campbell Mattinson
Unfortunately, as with many great things, quantities are low, which is why we are sending out a pre-arrival offer to ensure that YOU don’t miss out on one of the truly iconic releases of the year. This is the third release of single site wines with winemaker Melanie Chester at the helm and, as the accolades show, the wines continue to excel in leaps and bounds under her guidance. Some exceptional growing conditions have also boosted results, with the 2023 vintage producing wines of exceptional purity.
‘The 2023 growing seasons was one of the coldest and latest on record, helping the vineyards produce wines of wonderful purity and tension... “I think you will notice the crystalline texture and pure voices of the Chardonnays, while the Pinots have a wonderful fleshiness and perfume,” says Chester.’ – Giant Steps
The 2023 single site Giant Steps releases all scored between 95 and 98 points. No mean feat considering there are nine Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs listed. With each wine so clearly showcasing its own personality and reflection of terroir, there is something here for every palate. These are wines to savour, wines to share, wines to cellar.
A highlight of this year’s release (if it can get better than winning Best Pinot Noir) is the hotly anticipated unveiling of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the newly acquired Bastard Hill vineyard. Purchased by Giant Steps in 2022, the legendary vineyard’s name is a reference to its wily steep slope (32 degrees) and high-altitude… these grapes are maximum effort for maximum reward. The quality here is unquestionable, and it will truly be exciting to see the development of these wines over the course of the next five to ten years. The 98-point debut 2023 Bastard Hill Chardonnay has already been likened to Corton-Charlemagne by Philip Rich of the Halliday Wine Companion.
‘Incisive, pure and chalky on the palate, this concentrated yet light on its feet wine is reminiscent of good Corton-Charlemagne. That it will age gracefully is a given.’ – Philip Rich
With quantities of the inaugural Bastard Hill wines so scarce, we will only be offering the high-demand 2023 Bastard Hill Chardonnay in a limited Giant Steps Yarra Valley Chardonnay 4-pack.
