Region: Yarra Valley
Sub Region: Gruyere – Warramate Ranges
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2025
The Wine
Sexton is Giant Steps’ home vineyard and one of the great sites of the Lower Yarra. Planted in 1997 across the steep north-facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges, it sits between approximately 130 and 210 metres, close to Yarra Yering and Coldstream Hills. Thin grey clay-loam topsoils sit over gravel, granite, ironstone and a hard rocky clay base, naturally restricting yields and producing small, intensely flavoured berries.
Chardonnay here is led by Gingin/Mendoza material, with its characteristic millerandage or “hen and chicken” bunches. The mix of large and tiny berries creates a high skin-to-juice ratio, giving Sexton a distinctive phenolic grip alongside its ripe citrus and stone fruit.
The 2025 was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, then transferred by gravity to oak with full lees and no settling. Wild fermentation took place principally in 500-litre French oak puncheons, alongside a new 1,200-litre Mercurey foudre introduced for this vintage. There was a small amount of bâtonnage, around 15% malolactic fermentation, and nine months maturation with approximately 31% new oak.
It is a more powerful Chardonnay than Applejack but still tightly controlled: stone fruit, candied ginger, grapefruit and roasted hazelnut over a concentrated palate, with phenolic texture and pithy acidity stretching the finish.
Cellared Says
Sexton sits beautifully between the generosity of Tarraford and the tighter Upper Yarra wines. There is more flesh and obvious concentration here, but the vineyard’s phenolic structure stops it ever feeling soft. If you like Chardonnay with texture and presence rather than just acid and reduction, this is probably the sweet spot in the range.
Reviews
“Expressive with aromas of stone fruits, candied ginger, grapefruit and roasted hazelnut.”
97 Points – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
“It’s immediately impressive, beautifully well sustained, complex in a hand-in-glove way.”
96 Points – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Region: Yarra Valley
Sub Region: Gruyere – Warramate Ranges
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2025
The Wine
Sexton is Giant Steps’ home vineyard and one of the great sites of the Lower Yarra. Planted in 1997 across the steep north-facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges, it sits between approximately 130 and 210 metres, close to Yarra Yering and Coldstream Hills. Thin grey clay-loam topsoils sit over gravel, granite, ironstone and a hard rocky clay base, naturally restricting yields and producing small, intensely flavoured berries.
Chardonnay here is led by Gingin/Mendoza material, with its characteristic millerandage or “hen and chicken” bunches. The mix of large and tiny berries creates a high skin-to-juice ratio, giving Sexton a distinctive phenolic grip alongside its ripe citrus and stone fruit.
The 2025 was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, then transferred by gravity to oak with full lees and no settling. Wild fermentation took place principally in 500-litre French oak puncheons, alongside a new 1,200-litre Mercurey foudre introduced for this vintage. There was a small amount of bâtonnage, around 15% malolactic fermentation, and nine months maturation with approximately 31% new oak.
It is a more powerful Chardonnay than Applejack but still tightly controlled: stone fruit, candied ginger, grapefruit and roasted hazelnut over a concentrated palate, with phenolic texture and pithy acidity stretching the finish.
Cellared Says
Sexton sits beautifully between the generosity of Tarraford and the tighter Upper Yarra wines. There is more flesh and obvious concentration here, but the vineyard’s phenolic structure stops it ever feeling soft. If you like Chardonnay with texture and presence rather than just acid and reduction, this is probably the sweet spot in the range.
Reviews
“Expressive with aromas of stone fruits, candied ginger, grapefruit and roasted hazelnut.”
97 Points – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
“It’s immediately impressive, beautifully well sustained, complex in a hand-in-glove way.”
96 Points – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
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