Pinot Wars: Giant Steps vs. Rippon

The Flying Winemaker, Hong Kong
Tasted Friday, November 21, 2014 by dustbuddy with 602 views

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2012 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Applejack Vineyard 90 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Delicate red fruit to begin with some herbs/greenery as back notes. A little tart perhaps?. Zingy and mineral in the mouth with an interesting long finish. Pretty accessible right now.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2010 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Applejack Vineyard 90 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Darker and more substantial than the 2012 that it was served alongside. A warmer vintage. Plenty of spice to accompany the red fruit (Liquorice perhaps?).

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 2011 Rippon Pinot Noir Mature Vine 89 Points

    New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Lake Wanaka

    Currently seems a bit closed as this is even more reticent than the other Rippons tasted. However, it has good bones with a classy mouth feel - a bit like a velvet glove it is forceful and playful all at once! Hints of bitterness which slightly detracts perhaps?

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2011 Rippon Pinot Noir Emma's block 92 Points

    New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Lake Wanaka

    A bit closed right now? Puckering in the right way. Such density. Cherry and herb on the back palate. Lovely stuff. Good potential.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 3 (2 Notes)

  • 2012 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Gladysdale Vineyard 91 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Generous sweet plush fruit. Plenty of spice. A strong pull into a darker and brooding finish. Weird as the 2012 Applejack that was served was quite light by comparison to its 2010 sibling. This was just the reverse.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2010 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Gladysdale Vineyard 88 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    My least favourite wine of the evening. However, it did have a beautiful perfume - cherry and maybe some floral notes (blossom of some kind?). However, on the palate, a little dull by comparison to those before and certainly not as much drive on the finish.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 4 (2 Notes)

  • 2011 Rippon Pinot Noir Tinker's Field 90 Points

    New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Lake Wanaka

    5 spice and more delicate fruit to start. Then into the dense palate with characteristic puckering acidity. A real food wine. Difficult to assess at present.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2008 Rippon Pinot Noir Tinker's Field 92 Points

    New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Lake Wanaka

    My favourite wine of the evening. Powerful, dense and earthy - everything you could wish for from an Otago Pinot. Just starting to develop but is so rich and decadent right now that you could leave it alone for some time to come.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 2012 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Sexton Vineyard 88 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Delicate but maybe too delicate? Very slight red fruit. A little too sweet?

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2007 Rippon Pinot Noir 91 Points

    New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Lake Wanaka

    More typical of central otago than the other rippon wines? Characteristic density of fruit amongst a herbs and undergrowth. It seems less tense than the younger vintages although you sense that there is still plenty to come.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

×
×