Giant Steps : Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes of Giant Steps' Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

Tasting

Color
The color is a brilliant crimson red.

Nose
The bouquet reveals a pronounced floral character with aromas of cranberries and wild strawberries. These are joined by delicate notes of rose petals and musk rose, enhanced by touches of Sichuan pepper and fresh citrus oil. The palette is rounded out by nuances of peony root, raspberry leaf, spiced cherry, cedar and black pepper.

Palate
The palate reveals remarkable finesse accompanied by excellent depth. The tannins, extremely fine and long, offer a silky, delicate texture that glides with elegance. The naturally vibrant and bright acidity carries notes of baked earth, pine mushroom and spice. The finish stands out for its beautiful length, reflecting a delicate balance.

Food and wine pairing
This Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 pairs harmoniously with rich meats such as pork belly served with root vegetables.

Service and storage
The Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve until around 2032.

Other characteristics
This wine has an alcohol content of 13.0%, a total acidity of 6.2 g/L and a pH of 3.41.

A floral and delicate Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley by Giant Steps

The estate
Established in Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia, on Wurundjeri land, Giant Steps has established itself as a leading reference for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from this renowned wine region. The winery stands out for its rigorous parcel-by-parcel approach, vinifying different clones separately and favoring gentle winemaking with gravity-fed bottling, without fining or filtration. Giant Steps has maintained a long-standing relationship with the Primavera vineyard since 2006, producing elegant and aromatic wines.

The vineyard
The Primavera vineyard, planted in 2001 in Woori Yallock by Lou Primavera, spans 12 hectares of red clay loam soils at 230 meters above sea level in the Yarra Valley. Located on both sides of a small valley marking the start of Lone Star Creek, the vineyard enjoys a north and northeast exposure. MV6 clones are planted on the north-facing slope, while clone 115 occupies the south-facing slope. This terroir traditionally produces floral Pinot Noirs, with red fruit character, fragrant, soft and supple.

The vintage
The 2022 vintage is characterized by high quality but low yields. A cool, wet and stormy spring caused poor fruit set. A dry and warm December further reduced bunch weight, by up to 40% below average. The mild summer allowed for a long, slow ripening period, punctuated by timely rains in January. The vines developed a vigorous canopy with a light fruit load, allowing for a healthy harvest with little disease or weather pressure. The grapes showed remarkable concentration, excellent natural acidity and quality tannins.

Winemaking and aging
The grapes for the Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 were hand-harvested on March 22, 25 and 28, 2022, then cooled overnight to 12°C. Fermentation took place in small oak vats and open stainless steel tanks. The clonal fermentations were kept separate: clone 115 was vinified as whole bunches in a used oak vat, while clone MV6 was vinified as whole berries with extended cold maceration. Maceration lasted between 10 and 14 days with gentle gravity-fed pump-overs. Aging continued for 10 months in 225-liter French oak barrels and demi-muids (20% new oak, 80% older oak). The wine remained on the lees without movement before blending, carried out in December. Bottling was done by gravity on January 12, 2023, without fining or filtration.

Grape variety
100% Pinot Noir, from clones MV6 and 115.