Style Profile at a Glance
| Attribute | Profile | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Medium-Bodied | ●●●●● |
| Tannins | Tightly Wound & Fine | ●●●●● |
| Sweetness | Dry | ●●●●● |
| Acidity | Bright & Lively | ●●●●● |
| Fruit | Red Cherry, Blueberry & Red Apple Skin | ●●●●● |
| Oak | Subtle & Seasoned Barriques | ●●●●● |
Expert Tasting Notes & Estate Reputation
- 95 Points – James Suckling: "This delicate and perfumed pinot is a blend of equal parts from five single-vineyard bottlings. Aromas of maraschino cherries, crushed stones, hibiscus, violets and flowers. The palate is mid-weighted with tightly wound tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of blackberry bushes, blueberries, red apple skins and spices. Drink or hold. Screw cap."
- 92 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2024 Circle of Fifths Pinot Noir is so named because it features fruit from all five single vineyards—it also references a complex but interesting musical arrangement concept linked to John Coltrane, should one be so inclined to look it up (I did so, after pressing "play" on one of my favored Coltrane albums). The wine leads with rose petal perfume, cherry blossom, red apple, star anise, pomegranate, licorice and dried sage, with leather, tobacco and tapenade to close. In the mouth, there is a lot going on, yet I find the intersection of acidity and tannin through the finish to skew and occlude the flow of both thought and flavor. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap."
- The Concept Behind the Concept: Named after music theory's foundational harmonic arrangement (a nod to original founder Phil Sexton’s love of jazz and John Coltrane), Head Winemaker Melanie Chester utilizes this label to blend equal proportions from their five distinguished single vineyards—Sexton, Applejack, Tarraford, Primavera, and Bastard Hill. This builds a balanced regional chord rather than a single-terroir expression.
Highlights
- Crafted from a precise, balanced blend of fruit sourced from Giant Steps’ five premium single-vineyard parcels across the Yarra Valley.
- 100% hand-picked and sorted, utilizing a 40% whole-bunch inclusion in the fermentation matrix to impart complex herbal structure and aromatic lift.
- Fermented spontaneously with wild yeasts in small batches, followed by gravity transfer into neutral French oak barriques to retain varietal purity and delicate tannins.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Bright, translucent crimson red.
- Nose: Highly perfumed and expressive, showing maraschino cherry, star anise, and pomegranate, layered with fine details of blue slate, dried sage, and violet petals.
- Palate: Mid-weighted and tightly wound. Vibrant flavors of blueberries, red apple skin, and wild blackberry bushes are framed by fine, linear tannins and an energetic core of acidity that leaves a savory, spice-driven finish.
Serving Suggestion
- Temperature: Serve slightly cool at 14–16°C to emphasize the lifted aromatics and control the structural tannins.
- Decanting: A brief 20-to-30 minute decant is highly beneficial to allow the tightly wound whole-bunch tannins and herbal spice components to open up. Ready for immediate drinking or cellaring over the next 4–6 years.
- Western Pairing: An excellent matchup with pan-seared duck breast, roasted quail, pork tenderloin, or mushroom risotto.
- Asian & Cantonese Pairing: The wine's bright red fruit profile and spicy, structured tannins frame roasted poultry and savory dim sum seamlessly. It pairs reliably well with 北京填鴨 (Peking Duck), 豉油雞 (Soy Sauce Chicken), or 豬肉韭菜餃 (Pork and Chive Dumplings).
You May Also Like
-
Giant Steps Chardonnay 2024
Regular price HK$216Regular price -
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling 2025
Regular price HK$235Regular price -
Pewsey Vale Vineyard Riesling 2025
Regular price HK$212Regular price -
Pieropan Soave Classico DOC 2024
Regular price HK$168Regular price
