Wombat Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir

Giant Steps Wombat Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir is sourced from the highest altitude vineyard in the Yarra Valley. Owned by Handpicked Wines, it was planted in 1988 on ferrous red volcanic loam soils.

Some grapes are destemmed into the base of two vats to begin indigenous yeast fermentation. The wine ferments using a pied de cuve ('foot of the tank') starter technique – like using a sourdough starter to make sourdough.

The remainder of the fruit is added as whole bunches on top and the vats closed to induce carbonic maceration, or fermentation within the intact grapes.

Once the vats are clearly fermenting, a small amount of juice from the base – the starter – is splashed over the top of each vat. Occasional foot stomping releases more juice from the grapes.

The wine is then pressed to new and seasoned tight grained French oak to mature for 10 months. It is bottled via gravity without fining or filtration.

Light crimson, Giant Steps Wombat Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir has silky red berry flavours, seamless integrated tannins and a long finish. Cellaring potential is nine years.