Vintage Notes
The 2023 season in the Yarra Valley produced a limited but exceptional vintage, marked by a cool spring, mild growing conditions, and high rainfall. This year’s harvest was one of the latest on record, starting two and a half weeks later than usual. The grapes from this vintage boast impressive fruit concentration and vibrant natural acidity.
Vineyard Notes
Location: Gladysdale
Planted: 1986
Elevation: 380 meters
Soil Type: Volcanic loam (red/ferrous)
Aspect: North and south-facing slopes
Bastard Hill, a 31-hectare property in Upper Yarra Valley’s Gladysdale sub-region, features 13 hectares dedicated to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Named for its steep slopes and high altitude (300-400 meters), the site was originally planted by Ray Guerin in the late 1980s for premium sparkling wines. Recognized for its potential for top-quality still wines, Bastard Hill has been producing notable Chardonnay and Pinot Noir since the 1990s. The 2023 vintage marks its debut in the Giant Steps portfolio, showcasing the vineyard’s ability to produce concentrated, pure, and focused wines.
Winemaking
Handpicked small bunches are whole-bunch pressed, with juice gravity-fed into barrels without settling. Fermentation occurs in 500L French puncheons, with 25% undergoing malolactic fermentation. The wine matures for 9 months in used French oak—25% second-use and 75% seasoned from Mercurey, Taransaud, and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
Planted in 1987 in Gladysdale at 400m by the trailblazing Ray Guerin for Hardys and purchased by Giant Steps in 2022. This is its first wine from the vineyard. And what a wine it is! A brilliant and pure scented bouquet of nashi, pink grapefruit, crushed rock, sea spray and honeysuckle. There's a hint of fresh honeycomb, too. 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. - 98 Points, Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
