Perfume, red-fruited clarity and finely layered structure define the Chatto Yarraensis Pinot Noir 2023, the producer’s first Pinot Noir sourced from mainland Australia. Created by respected winemaker Jim Chatto, the wine represents a playful reversal of the growing number of Victorian winemakers travelling south to work with Tasmanian fruit. The grapes come from a well-known but intentionally undisclosed vineyard situated near Yarra Glen in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. Yarraensis takes its name from Eucalyptus yarraensis, commonly known as the Yarra gum, a critically endangered tree associated with the region. The wine is positioned within Chatto’s regional collection and provides a distinctly Yarra Valley counterpoint to the producer’s predominantly Tasmanian range. Its style remains consistent with Chatto’s focus on Pinot Noir that combines aromatic expression, moderate weight and clearly defined tannins.
The 2023 growing season began under cool and wet conditions, with La Niña influencing the vineyard through flowering. These conditions resulted in low bunch weights and particularly small yields, naturally concentrating the available fruit. Mild and dry weather followed during the remainder of the season, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly while retaining freshness and moderate alcohol. The fruit was harvested by hand and fermented for approximately 10 days on skins with indigenous yeast. Twenty-five per cent whole bunches were retained during fermentation, while regular hand plunging provided gentle colour, flavour and tannin extraction. The wine was matured with 20 per cent new French oak, adding structural support without dominating its red-fruited profile. Medium-bodied and fragrant, it combines bright red berries with heady spice, lively acidity and layered, finely measured tannins. The result is an expressive and balanced Yarra Valley Pinot Noir that offers immediate appeal while possessing enough structural detail for short- to medium-term cellaring.
Perfume, red-fruited clarity and finely layered structure define the Chatto Yarraensis Pinot Noir 2023, the producer’s first Pinot Noir sourced from mainland Australia. Created by respected winemaker Jim Chatto, the wine represents a playful reversal of the growing number of Victorian winemakers travelling south to work with Tasmanian fruit. The grapes come from a well-known but intentionally undisclosed vineyard situated near Yarra Glen in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. Yarraensis takes its name from Eucalyptus yarraensis, commonly known as the Yarra gum, a critically endangered tree associated with the region. The wine is positioned within Chatto’s regional collection and provides a distinctly Yarra Valley counterpoint to the producer’s predominantly Tasmanian range. Its style remains consistent with Chatto’s focus on Pinot Noir that combines aromatic expression, moderate weight and clearly defined tannins.
The 2023 growing season began under cool and wet conditions, with La Niña influencing the vineyard through flowering. These conditions resulted in low bunch weights and particularly small yields, naturally concentrating the available fruit. Mild and dry weather followed during the remainder of the season, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly while retaining freshness and moderate alcohol. The fruit was harvested by hand and fermented for approximately 10 days on skins with indigenous yeast. Twenty-five per cent whole bunches were retained during fermentation, while regular hand plunging provided gentle colour, flavour and tannin extraction. The wine was matured with 20 per cent new French oak, adding structural support without dominating its red-fruited profile. Medium-bodied and fragrant, it combines bright red berries with heady spice, lively acidity and layered, finely measured tannins. The result is an expressive and balanced Yarra Valley Pinot Noir that offers immediate appeal while possessing enough structural detail for short- to medium-term cellaring.
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