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Giant Steps Circle of Fifths Chardonnay bottle
Giant Steps
SKU 103439

2024 Giant Steps - Chardonnay Yarra Valley Circle of Fifths (750ml)

$54.99 - $54.99
$54.99
$54.99 - $54.99
$54.99
Availability:
12 available

Giant Steps was founded by Phil Sexton in the Yarra Valley township of Healesville, building its early reputation under founding winemaker Steve Flamsteed around single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 2021 Melanie Chester took over as head of winemaking and viticulture, and the estate has since been named Halliday's Winery of the Year. Circle of Fifths marks her first new range for the label, a name borrowed from the music theory concept and, fittingly, from the John Coltrane album that gave Giant Steps its own name.

Rather than spotlighting a single site, this cuvée blends fruit from all five of the estate's vineyards, Tarraford, Sexton, Primavera, Applejack, and Bastard Hill, drawing together their differing characters into one wine. Every grape is hand-picked and sorted, then whole-bunch pressed before wild fermentation in French oak puncheons, a portion of them new. The wine matures on full lees without stirring until it's blended and bottled, a process meant to build depth and texture while keeping the fruit's natural energy intact.

The 2024 vintage brought a compressed, even harvest, and the wine shows it: bright citrus and stone fruit mingle with grilled nuts, confit lemon, and a touch of flinty reduction, backed by a chalky, mineral-driven palate. It's a versatile match for roast chicken, grilled scallops, or a creamy risotto.

94 Points
"The 2024 Circle of Fifths Chardonnay comprises a blend of all five single vineyards. The wine shows a little of all, and in so doing, some of none. There is the austerity of acidity and cavalcade of crushed, salted and pasted nuts, lemon zest, citrus oil and green leaves, coupled finally with the floral and tea-like notes evident in all five cuvées. It's an interesting composition, perhaps a little frenetic, like some of John Coltrane's work (Circle of Fifths is named after the jazz arrangement toward the circle of fifths root movement, whereas Coltrane's proclivity is in thirds, which is unusual. Giant Steps was named after Coltrane's studio album), but pleasurable in just the same way. In its way, this wine endorses and emphasizes the singularity of the single-vineyard wines, but it offers immense satisfaction of its own accord as well. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap."
—Erin Larkin-Wine Advocate
Appellation: Yarra Valley
Vintage: 2024
Region: Victoria
Country: Australia
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Giant Steps
Giant Steps

Giant Steps was founded by Phil Sexton in the Yarra Valley township of Healesville, building its early reputation under founding winemaker Steve Flamsteed around single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 2021 Melanie Chester took over as head of winemaking and viticulture, and the estate has since been named Halliday's Winery of the Year. Circle of Fifths marks her first new range for the label, a name borrowed from the music theory concept and, fittingly, from the John Coltrane album that gave Giant Steps its own name.

Rather than spotlighting a single site, this cuvée blends fruit from all five of the estate's vineyards, Tarraford, Sexton, Primavera, Applejack, and Bastard Hill, drawing together their differing characters into one wine. Every grape is hand-picked and sorted, then whole-bunch pressed before wild fermentation in French oak puncheons, a portion of them new. The wine matures on full lees without stirring until it's blended and bottled, a process meant to build depth and texture while keeping the fruit's natural energy intact.

The 2024 vintage brought a compressed, even harvest, and the wine shows it: bright citrus and stone fruit mingle with grilled nuts, confit lemon, and a touch of flinty reduction, backed by a chalky, mineral-driven palate. It's a versatile match for roast chicken, grilled scallops, or a creamy risotto.

94 Points
"The 2024 Circle of Fifths Chardonnay comprises a blend of all five single vineyards. The wine shows a little of all, and in so doing, some of none. There is the austerity of acidity and cavalcade of crushed, salted and pasted nuts, lemon zest, citrus oil and green leaves, coupled finally with the floral and tea-like notes evident in all five cuvées. It's an interesting composition, perhaps a little frenetic, like some of John Coltrane's work (Circle of Fifths is named after the jazz arrangement toward the circle of fifths root movement, whereas Coltrane's proclivity is in thirds, which is unusual. Giant Steps was named after Coltrane's studio album), but pleasurable in just the same way. In its way, this wine endorses and emphasizes the singularity of the single-vineyard wines, but it offers immense satisfaction of its own accord as well. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap."
—Erin Larkin-Wine Advocate
Appellation: Yarra Valley
Vintage: 2024
Region: Victoria
Country: Australia
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Giant Steps