{"product_id":"giant-steps-sexton-vineyard-pinot-noir-2025","title":"Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDark, powerful and deeply structured, Sexton shows the more commanding side of Yarra Valley Pinot Noir.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiant Steps Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2025 comes from the Sexton Vineyard at Gruyere, planted in 1997 on the steep north-facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges in Victoria's Yarra Valley. Sitting between approximately 130 and 210 metres elevation, the vineyard has thin gravelly loams over a hard clay base with granite and ironstone influences. Naturally low yields and a high skin-to-juice ratio produce intensely flavoured fruit with the concentration and structure that distinguish Sexton from Giant Steps' other single-vineyard Pinot Noirs. The 2025 season brought a generous wet winter followed by warm, dry spring conditions and an earlier, compressed harvest. The resulting fruit combined exceptional concentration and weight with the freshness needed to retain balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit was hand-picked and completely destemmed to whole berries before a four-day cold soak and wild fermentation in a combination of small oak fermenters and stainless-steel open vats. The wine then matured for ten months in 225-litre French oak barriques, with 22% new and 78% seasoned oak, remaining in contact with its lees before blending. Dark cherry, blackberry, plum and pomegranate are layered with red rose, alpine herbs, pepper, earth and savoury spice. The palate is compact and concentrated, with bright acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins providing considerable structure beneath the dark fruit. Mineral and floral complexity carries through a long, powerful finish, giving this serious Sexton excellent potential for further bottle development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOSE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e– Dark-fruited, floral and complex\u003cbr\u003eDark cherry, blackberry, plum and pomegranate with red rose, violet, pepper, alpine herbs, earth and subtle savoury spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePALATE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e– Concentrated, powerful and firmly structured\u003cbr\u003eDark fruit and stewed rhubarb are framed by bright acidity and compact, fine-grained tannins, with mineral, earthy and peppery nuances adding complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFINISH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e– Long, mineral and persistent\u003cbr\u003eDark cherry, florals, spice and savoury mineral notes linger over firm tannins in a powerful, focused and exceptionally persistent finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviews \u0026amp; Accolades\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e“From the Sexton vineyard in Gruyere planted in the late '90s. 100% destemmed, 22% new wood. More black fruits than red fruits, stewed rhubarb, a little earth and iodine, too. This follows through onto the darkly fruited, compact and firmly structured palate. The most closed of the four single-vineyard wines today but one that will reward at least a decade, or more, in your cellar.”\u003c\/em\u003e — Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 Points\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“The Sexton vineyard was planted in 1997. It’s a north-facing, exposed site, at 200 metres above sea level. There’s no escaping the seriousness of this wine. It’s cool, spicy and complex, but it has heft and power, and is structurally firm (to say the least). This wine is both keen with mineral and flooded with floral character, the latter embedded in the fruit rather than flying off as aromatics. Pomegranate, dark cherries, blood and bone, alpine herbs, red roses, smoked cream, pepper and peppercorn, the latter bound to those red rose notes. It’s serious in style and seriously good.”\u003c\/em\u003e — Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, 96 Points\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrophy – Best Pinot Noir of Show, 2026 Royal Queensland Wine Awards\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFiner Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrand - Giant Steps\u003cbr\u003eStyle - Red Wine\u003cbr\u003eVarietal - Pinot Noir\u003cbr\u003eCountry - Australia\u003cbr\u003eState - Victoria\u003cbr\u003eRegion - Yarra Valley\u003cbr\u003eVintage - 2025\u003cbr\u003eABV - 13.8%\u003cbr\u003eSize - 750ml\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Giant Steps","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44418601123927,"sku":"GS-SEX-PN-25","price":99.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0043\/9258\/3217\/files\/68863b59-3f1b-4e17-83b4-433b2429cd8e.webp?v=1791331640","url":"https:\/\/kentstreetcellars.com.au\/products\/giant-steps-sexton-vineyard-pinot-noir-2025","provider":"Kent Street Cellars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}