Giant Steps LDR Pinot Shiraz 2019

Pinot Shiraz – who knew? Well the blend has a bit of history in the Hunter Valley but now is making a resurgence in the Yarra too, with Giant Steps and winemaker Steve Flamsteed, as usual at the front of the curve. It is a food wine, made for the table – Australian for Beaujolais, and it is delicious.

It is a very pretty bright cherry red and the fruit is immediately attractive. There are layers of cranberry, raspberry, dried herbs and stalky spice with a touch of aged meat thrown in too. The palate shows superb purity, a textural silkiness but is also quite savoury with supple tannins underlying a long and drying finish. While it is delicious, it does not feel ready just yet – this wine has more to give and just needs maybe six months to start showing its best.