98 Points – James Halliday — “Simply Irresistible”

My Wine Man on Giant Steps. Giant Steps is one of the Yarra Valley’s most celebrated producers, and the Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir is their most extraordinary wine.

Named after the Applejack eucalypts that surround the vineyard — planted at Gladysdale in 1997 — this is a single-vineyard Pinot of breathtaking complexity and precision.

James Halliday awarded the 2024 vintage 98 points. This is for the serious Pinot lover who wants the very best Australia has to offer.

The Applejack is made from seven clones — 114, 115, MV6, D2V5, D5V15, Pommard and Abel — with 15% whole bunches and 20–25% new French barriques. The result is a wine of extraordinary depth and harmony.

If you want to understand what makes the Yarra Valley one of Australia’s greatest Pinot regions, this is the bottle.

Tasting Notes

Like a Mahler symphony — all of the elements in perfect harmony.

Aromas of crushed rose petals, red and black cherries, satsuma plums and subtle hints of sandalwood and fennel fronds, with a little charcuterie and a discreet touch of wet stone. On the palate, concentrated, structured and saline, yet you barely notice the tannins due to the core of pure raspberry and cherry fruit. A gentle sappiness on the long, lingering finish. 98 Points — James Halliday.

Style & Drinking Window

Medium to full-bodied with silky, fine-grained tannins and exceptional natural acidity. Drinking beautifully now through 2032–2035. Decanting for 30–45 minutes will open up the bouquet and reveal the wine’s full complexity.

Food Pairing

A 98-point Yarra Valley Pinot like this demands game with presence. We love it with Grass Fed Cape Grim Sirloin Roast from My Meat Man. Herb-seared medium-rare, the wild, iodine-rich meat perfectly matches the wine’s rose-petal aromatics, red and black cherry, sandalwood, fennel and subtle charcuterie notes. A pairing that does justice to both.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

98 points from James Halliday. Seven clones. A single vineyard planted in 1997.

The Applejack is one of the most critically acclaimed Pinot Noirs ever made in Australia — and at HK$599, it is a serious collector’s bottle that is also drinking magnificently right now.

Looking for a Different Style?

• 2024 Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir — Tasmania’s benchmark single-vineyard Pinot
• 2023 Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir — slightly earlier drinking, more red-fruited expression
• 2021 Bass Phillip Estate Old Vines Pinot Noir — Gippsland’s most iconic old-vine Pinot