{"product_id":"giant-steps-sexton-vineyard-chardonnay-2025","title":"Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSexton’s steep, north-facing slopes produce a powerful yet beautifully controlled Chardonnay with concentration, citrus drive and a long mineral finish.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay 2025 comes from the Sexton Vineyard at Gruyere in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, planted in 1997 on the steep slopes of the Warramate Ranges. The vineyard sits between approximately 130 and 210 metres elevation, where thin gravelly loams over a hard clay base naturally restrict yields and produce intensely flavoured fruit. Predominantly planted to GinGin and Mendoza Chardonnay clones, the site is known for producing berries with a high skin-to-juice ratio, contributing both phenolic structure and depth. The 2025 growing season followed a wet winter and warm, dry spring, with an earlier and relatively compressed harvest yielding fruit of excellent concentration and freshness. Sexton’s naturally powerful character is evident in this vintage, but vibrant acidity keeps the wine focused and precise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed before fermentation and maturation in French oak, predominantly in puncheons with one new 1200-litre foudre. Maturation continued for approximately nine months, with 31% new oak and the balance seasoned, building texture while preserving the vineyard’s distinctive fruit and mineral character. Stone fruit, candied ginger and grapefruit sit alongside roasted hazelnut, white peach, pear and subtle nougat complexity. The palate is concentrated and powerful yet tightly composed, driven by mouth-watering acidity and a fine pithy edge. A long, saline and mineral finish gives the wine impressive persistence and suggests strong potential for further development in bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOSE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e– Expressive, citrus-driven and nutty\u003cbr\u003eStone fruit, white peach, grapefruit and pear with candied ginger, roasted hazelnut, subtle nougat and restrained French oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePALATE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e– Concentrated, powerful and precise\u003cbr\u003eRipe stone fruit and citrus are carried by bright acidity, fine phenolic tension and a mineral core, with hazelnut and subtle oak adding savoury complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFINISH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e– Long, pithy and mineral\u003cbr\u003ePersistent grapefruit, white peach and roasted nut flavours extend through a mouth-watering, saline and finely structured finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviews \u0026amp; Accolades\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e“A blend of Gingin and Bernard clones planted in '97 in Gruyere. Fermented and matured in mainly puncheons and one new 1200L foudre. Expressive with aromas of stone fruits, candied ginger, grapefruit and roasted hazelnut. Just as good on the beautifully concentrated mid-palate, finishing with mouth-watering acidity on the very long, pithy finish. An excellent Sexton to drink now and over the next six to eight years.”\u003c\/em\u003e — Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion, 97 Points\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“The lines are long, the flavour is pure. This is all mineral and white peach, lemonade and pear, with grapefruit biting in the background and nougat tucked within. It’s immediately impressive, beautifully well sustained, complex in a hand-in-glove way. Cellar this; it needs a year or three. It will be great.”\u003c\/em\u003e — Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, 95 Points\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFiner Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrand - Giant Steps\u003cbr\u003eStyle - White Wine\u003cbr\u003eVarietal - Chardonnay\u003cbr\u003eCountry - Australia\u003cbr\u003eState - Victoria\u003cbr\u003eRegion - Yarra Valley\u003cbr\u003eVintage - 2025\u003cbr\u003eABV - 13%\u003cbr\u003eSize - 750ml\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Giant Steps","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44418600534103,"sku":"GS-SEX-CH-25","price":89.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0043\/9258\/3217\/files\/524291a1-4439-41fb-a873-a4d44abe9302.webp?v=1791331517","url":"https:\/\/kentstreetcellars.com.au\/products\/giant-steps-sexton-vineyard-chardonnay-2025","provider":"Kent Street Cellars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}