Giant Steps (Yarra Valley) – Owned by Phil, Allison and Harry Sexton. Phil was the founder of the successful Devil’s Lair in the Margaret River and founded this winery a few years after selling Devil’s Lair to Southcorp in 1996.
“Harry’s Monster” Cabernet Blend 2004 – 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc and 14% Petit Verdot. Tight, closed nose. Palate is powerful without being over the top. Very good structure and mouth-feel. Certain to improve with more time in bottle. 89/100
“Tarraford Vineyard” Chardonnay 2004 – Minerals, flint and a touch of struck match. Powerful, intense palate with good length. 88/100
Pinot Noir 2004 – Very stalky nose. A bit of an acid spike on the palate. Tannins are good and the fruit is good, just needs that acid to fall back into line. 87/100
Merlot 2003 – Restrained nose, with plums and a touch of oak. Length is good but everything is so closed at the moment that it is hard to tell where it will end up. 87/100
Chardonnay 2004 – Butter, yeast and oak at the forefront. Overpowering, broad palate. Perhaps it will settle down, but I haven’t liked this either of the times that I have tried it. 85/100