Ross Bathgate

9.5

Wow, really impressive. So tightly wound but with gorgeous structure and fruit. I would have expected a much higher Cab Franc percentage. So fine and sophisticated, loved it. — 9 months ago

Andre Johnson

9.2

Great!! Pair with pork tenderloin — 2 years ago

Christopher Severo

9.0

Paddock excellent smooth cab — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Dense dark crimson, almost black in colour - opaque. Lots to unfurl on the nose with initial aromas of Tar, Black pepper, plum, black and blue fruits, dark chocolate and a herbal nuance. Densely packed and full bodied. Obviously the product of old vines. The vineyard was planted over a hundred years ago in 1920. One of those unique wines that has the ability to be full bodied and elegant at the same time. Never heavy, you could drink this all night. Still has latent energy at 16 years of age. An aristocratic Shiraz in company with the world’s finest. Jay Miller had an erudite comment when he said that the only competition for this wine comes from the likes of Guigal, Chapoutier, Chave, Krankl, and Ringland. I would be patriotic in addition to Chris Ringland, and include Peter Gago and Fraser McKinlay. Roman Bratasiuk is the winemaker of Astralis- which is made from a 4 hectare paddock in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. — 3 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.3

A exploration of nine 1999 Cote Rotie - Syrahs and Shiraz on their 25th anniversary. Another Aussie ended up being my #2 — 10 months ago

Toby Neal

9.1

2018 vintage, $12.99 from Aldi — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Pale Ruby in colour. Strawberry and Raspberry aromatics. The palate is very red fruit driven with strawberry and raspberry - quite delicious. I may be wrong but little evidence of whole bunch in the ferment. Oak is hardly detectable. Great value at $35AUD and should be an annual buy on top of the Individual Paddock Pinot Noirs which I buy regularly. Having a 2015 Applejack Pinot tonight. — 3 years ago

Ted

9.2

Love this wine. Has a bit of barrel ferment to it. Went well with spicy shrimp fra diavolo. — a year ago

with Jeni

Bob McDonald

9.3

Delectable - this is the Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir. Couldn’t see it in your options. Notes of red cherry with bunchy stalky notes. Root vegetables with fresh tilled loam. Still a lovely red fruited sweetness shining through the savoury bunchy notes on the palate. Of all of the Individual Paddock Pinots from Giant Steps, Applejack Vineyard is my favourite. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

After the recent straight entry level Giant Steps Pinot from 2017 which was fruit driven and quite delicious this is one of their individual paddock wines - Applejack which is made in a different style with whole bunch ferment to the fore. Notes of anise and white pepper to the red fruited nose and palate. Hint of clove. Oak is resolved to my palate. Impressive and showing Steve Flamsteed’s ability as a winemaker. Postscript: Jackson Family Wines from the USA has acquired Giant Steps as of a year ago I believe. I would expect Giant Steps to be more readily available in the US now. — 3 years ago