Maker:
Jim Chatto is one of the best winemakers in Australian wine today. He’s also one of the busiest. Jim was made Chief Winemaker for the McWilliam’s Wines Group in 2013. In 2017 he also took on the role of Chief Winemaker for Kreglinger/Pipers Brook in Tasmania. He now oversees the entire Group’s winemaking efforts. He works closely with the team at Mount Pleasant, providing style direction and mentoring teams, but it’s a less hands-on role. That’s given him energy to focus on his own wine brand, Chatto Wines, which he and his wife Daisy started in 2000 while living in the Hunter Valley. Pinot Noir is Jim’s current obsession. He and Daisy live on their own vineyard in Huon Valley in Tasmania’s far south – a cold and very different climate from the warmth of Hunter Valley. Theirs is a “tiny vineyard making serious Pinot fun” and in a short amount of time, Jim’s produced extraordinary wines that have won critical acclaim.
Often it’s left to the younger generations to challenge the status quo and forge new paths. But not in Jim’s case. This experienced winemaker and senior wine show judge has been helping to define modern Australian wine for years, and he’s not slowing down any time soon. Jim Chatto believes ‘every time you produce a wine you’re putting yourself out there, and that’s a very strong driver to produce the best wine you possibly can.’
Vineyard:
Huon Valley is a wine region in southern Tasmania, just south of Hobart. The area's cool climate and high sunshine hours make it a perfect region for the production of complex, high-quality Chardonnay- and Pinot Noir-based wines in particular. All together, this is one of Tasmania's most viticulturally important areas, and is home to a significant portion of the island's wine industry. The climate is of particular importance here. Huon Valley has a cool, maritime-influenced climate in the protective rain shadow of mountains to the west. Grapes can remain on the vine well into autumn as the gentle, late-summer warmth allows for a long, slow ripening period, balancing flavour development with acidity. Many of Huon Valley's vineyards are located on the slopes above the river, where the aspect and drainage in the alluvial limestone soils makes for a healthy vineyard. North-facing slopes help to maximize sunlight while protecting from cold southerly winds from the Antarctic. The river itself also serves to moderate temperatures, adding another element to the region's varied mesoclimates.
Winestyle/cuvee:
100% sourced from the Huon Valley, this Pinot Noir showcases an enticing bouquet of dark cherry, milk chocolate, and fennel. On the palate, the intensity of the fruit is complemented by a well-balanced acidity that adds liveliness to each sip. Overall, this wine exudes a vivacious and energetic character, offering a truly delightful tasting experience.
Tasting Notes:
Nose - Enticing Dark Cherries, Chocolate, Fennel
this Pinot Noir showcases an enticing bouquet of dark cherry, milk chocolate, and fennel.
Palate - Intense, Balanced Acidity, Energetic
On the palate, the intensity of the fruit is complemented by a well-balanced acidity that adds liveliness to each sip.
Finish - Vivacious, Fresh, Fine-Boned
Overall, this wine exudes a vivacious and energetic character, offering a truly delightful tasting experience.
Tasmania’s Jim Chatto is Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine’s Winemaker of the Year 2019. Chatto is McWilliam’s Wines group chief winemaker, a consultant to other wineries including Pipers Brook Vineyard, and runs his own boutique venture Chatto in Tassie’s Huon Valley. Chatto is the 22nd winner of this distinguished prize, which is awarded yearly. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Huon Valley, Tasmania
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.7%
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