Giant Steps Coal River Valley Pinot Noir 2025

95+ POINTS - Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion

"A deep crimson purple. Concentrated with dark cherry, blackberry, white and black pepper and a little crushed violet. The palate is compact and dense with firm, balanced tannins, creating a muscular wine that will reward at least six to 10 years in the cellar."
- Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion

The 2025 season in Tasmania started cold and wet building a solid foundation with strong, healthy and generous bunch numbers. Plant growth was slow due to the cool conditions all the way up until just prior to flowering, when some well-timed heat spurred the vines along. Flowering was late, but consistent. Lots of shoot and crop thinning was done throughout the season, as well as some extensive leaf plucking due to the cool conditions. It was a very mild summer with only a few days reaching over 30 degrees Celsius experienced at the vineyard, which meant a long and slow ripening. The grapes were picked late for our vineyard, coming into the winery late April. 

Handpicked and transported as fruit in refrigerated conditions by sea and land to our winery in the Yarra Valley. Fruit was destemmed and cold soaked for 3 -4  days in open oak vats and open stainless-steel fermenters.All parcels were matured in French oak – 21% new, 79% seasoned – for eight months in 225L barriques predominately Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé. Bottled by gravity. No fining. No filtration.

In Giant Steps' obsession with Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs from great Pinot growing areas around the world, they have gone as far south as you can go in this country. Despite the cool temperatures, the sunlight hours are long and intense, and they are intrigued by the depth of palate and colour that is possible from this landscape. While it is made with the Giant Steps gentle winemaking approach, the result is clearly a world apart in terroir. The Pinot Noir from Nocton vineyard  has amazing density and texture, with powerful weight and concentration. Blackberries, brambly, blackberry compote, plush, juicy tannins.