2025 Giant Steps Tarraford Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

Planted on a cool, south-facing slope on what is one of Giant Step's warmest sites. 30% mlf, 30% new oak. There's a gentle creaminess on the nose combined with white peach and grilled hazelnuts. Less opulent than the '24 without forgoing this wine's usual texture and mouthfeel. Delicious straight out of the gate but structured enough to cellar for at least the next four to six years.

96 points Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion

Tarraford has long been one of the cornerstone vineyards in the Giant Steps single vineyard collection. Sitting in the cool Tarrawarra pocket of the Yarra Valley, it has a different personality from the higher, more tightly wound Applejack and Bastard Hill sites. Under winemaker Melanie Chester, Tarraford Chardonnay tends to show a little more breadth and savoury complexity, while retaining the freshness and precision that have made Giant Steps such a reference point for modern Australian Chardonnay.

The vineyard sits around 100 metres above sea level on a north facing slope, with clay loam soils containing sandstone and siltstone. Its sheltered position allows Chardonnay to build flavour gradually, producing fruit with generous stone fruit character and naturally balanced acidity. In 2025 there is lovely concentration without excess weight, with careful oak and lees work adding texture and complexity rather than dominating the fruit.

Pale straw with a glint of green, the bouquet opens with nectarine, white peach and lemon curd, followed by grapefruit, honeysuckle and fresh almond. Hazelnut, struck match and warm sourdough emerge with air. The palate has a lovely creamy flow through the middle, with ripe stone fruit and citrus held firmly by bright acidity. Salted almond, grapefruit oil and gentle toast add savoury detail before a long finish of lemon, flint and roasted nuts.

Try it with Singapore style chilli prawns, lobster noodles with ginger and spring onion, scallops with sweetcorn and miso, roast chicken with tarragon or cauliflower roasted with tahini and sesame. Our pick is the lobster noodles. 

Cellaring: Drink from 2027 to 2038.