2025 Giant Steps Circle of Fifths Chardonnay

After a standout debut in 2024, the "Circle of Fifths" Chardonnay has quickly become an essential part of the Giant Steps lineup. Mel Chester’s vision here is to create a "chord" of flavour by blending equal parts of their five iconic single vineyards: Tarraford, Sexton, Primavera, Applejack, and Bastard Hill. It captures the diverse personality of the Yarra Valley in a way that no single site can quite manage on its own.

The 2025 vintage benefited from a wet winter and a warm, dry summer, resulting in fruit with excellent depth and vibrant natural acidity. The winemaking is just as serious as their top-tier labels: whole-bunch pressed, wild-fermented in French oak puncheons, and aged on full lees for a year. Only 15% of the barrels went through malolactic fermentation, ensuring the wine keeps that classic Yarra zip and precision.

The 2025 is a class act that has already snagged 96 points from Halliday Wine Companion. It's cool, complex and absolutely first class. On the palate, it’s concentrated and long, with grapefruit pith and a lemony finish that feels incredibly fresh. It’s a classy snapshot of the Yarra Valley that is drinking beautifully right now.

96 points
"With its aromas of white nectarine, lemon verbena, a little cashew and attractive marine scents, this is immediately appealing. On the palate it's concentrated with grapefruit pith and lemony acidity on the long finish. A class act to drink now and over the next four to six years."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)