Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

96 POINTS

Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion

Planted on a cool, south-facing slope in Tarrawarra. Barrel fermented and matured in puncheons and barriques (27% new). A bright green gold. Seductive with its bouquet of fuzzy peach skins, apricot, lemon oil and a hint of fresh vanilla bean. Opulent and creamily textured, with a fine vein of acidity running through the wine that gives it both structure and length. Very long and very yum to drink now and in the short to medium term.

96 POINTS

Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast

Spiced citrus and pineapple rind are underscored by toasted cashew and nougat, with a saline note, too, like seashells. There's a lovely laser-like focus to the palate, the acidity an arrow pointing straight down the middle of the tongue, giving the wine shape and dimension. This could age—it's still young—but it's a complete wine now, with Burgundian flare and Victorian sunshine.

95 POINTS

James Suckling

Mineral-edged and polished, with aromas of lime leaves, lemon peel, oyster shells, talcum powder, sea spray, apple blossoms and crushed stones. The palate is high-tension and tightly wound, with underlying power and weight carrying notes of grapefruit and salted nuts. This is delicious, with plenty of generosity.

95 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

Tarraford is the lowest and theoretically the warmest of Giant Steps single vineyard site. This vineyard is, to quote winemaker Mel Chester, “tucked into a glade in Tarrawarra”. Straight out of the gate this looked really beautiful. “We’re leaning into the breadth of 2024 with this wine, and into the personality of the vineyard”. Almond, pears, peaches, citrus, flowers and spice but it’s the juicy flow of it, so well seasoned. Umumi savouriness on the finish. Chester used the word opulent and that’s the word. I would jump this now; it wants to roll right now. When I came back to this maybe 45 minutes later all it had done was continue to blossom and pillow. Gorgeous wine.

94 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2024 Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay is creamy and concentrated, with a flow of crushed nuts and notes of custard apple, scraped vanilla pod, freshly grated nutmeg and warm pastry. This is a rounded, powerful wine with less complexity and edge than the 2023 tasted alongside, and it has more bulbous fruit weight and shape. 13.2% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

93 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Vinous

The 2024 Chardonnay Tarraford is right in the slot, delivering a powerful yet balanced blend of musky peach and melon aromas, well backed by vanillin oak, buttery nuts and praline barrel ferments. This is full throttle in style for the Yarra, with expansive flavors and underlying strength, while retaining freshness on the finish.

92 POINTS

Decanter

Quietly aromatic with fresh apple and zesty curd. Poised, bright and pure, with lifted fruit and a clean, layered texture. Mineral edges with lively acidity add energy. A gentle, textural, refined and balanced finish. Judges: Alex Hunt MW, Roger Jones, Beth Pearce MW