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. His 2017 Pinot Noir sold out in record time.
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:
The name Lutruwita is the palawa kani name for their island state. This is a complex blend of no less than 5 clones (114, 115, MV6, D5V12, G5V15) and 4 vineyard sites in the north, south and east of Tasmania. A celebration of what is so good about Tasmanian Pinot: Bright red & black fruits, all the florals, intensity yet elegance, coupled with wonderful length and purity.
Winestyle/cuvee:
Medium depth, garnet hues. Red cherry, spice, game and hints of pork and fennel sausage. Lovely in the mouth with softly layered sweet fruit. The flavours build deliciously. A vivacious and complete Pinot.
This would have to be the best release of Lutruwita that we have seen. It’s got a great line of spice running through it that really defines the wine for me. Past releases have been a bit softer and sweeter fruited whereas this is more spicy and savoury. Very good, especially for an entry level release!
Tasting:
Nose - Red, Black Fruits, Five-Spice
A perfumed mix of red and black berry fruits, violets, and lifted ‘five spice’ notes.
Palate - Sweet Fruit, High-tone Spice, Savoury
Red cherry, spice, game and hints of pork and fennel sausage
Finish - Lively, Refined, Elegant
A long and elegant finish, yet intense finish.
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.
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Huon Valley, Tasmania
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.3%
Sale
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