Dear winelover
Jim and Daisy Chatto's beautiful 'Isle' vineyard, deep in the Huon Valley (overlooking the river), is approximately 1.5 hectares in size, planted in 2007 and 2010 with eight different clones of Pinot Noir - 667, 777, 114, MV6, 2051, 8048, 2A and Abel - at a density of 5,000 vines per hectare, all on own roots.
In terms of style, Jim looks for red fruits and elegance in the wines, aimed for potential alcohol between 12.5 and 13.5%, retaining natural acidity and seeking intensity over concentration.
The 'Intrigue' is essentially the former 'white label' wine, produced this year from only Chatto fruit. The black label or 'Isle' is the best fruit, entirely from the estate vineyard, the core of which comes from a block of 777 in front of the winery.
Until the 2017 vintage, the fruit was picked and transported to the Hunter Valley and made at the Mount Pleasant winery where Jim was chief winemaker (most notably responsible for their series of exceptional single block bottlings over the past decade or so). From 2017 a modest winery was constructed on site, where the wines are now produced. Jim loves whole bunch character, but suitability depends upon the vintage and the fruit each year, generally averaging around 20-30%. Oak influence is minimal, mostly 500lt Francois Frere puncheons, the 'Isle' bottling entirely older oak vessels whilst the 'Intrigue' gets a single new puncheon most years.
The 2020 vintage is an excellent one, which Jim considers up there with the likes of 2012, 2016 and 2018. As the reputation of Jim's Pinot Noirs grows, they're already becoming very difficult to secure, the majority being sold each year to a closed 'standing order' mailing list. Thankfully, we recognised the quality of these beautiful wines early, and manage to retain a modest allocation each release.
Despite the miniscule quantities produced, Chatto is already at the very pointy end of Australian Pinot Noir production in terms of quality, yet there is no doubt that in time these exceptional Pinot Noirs may well rise to the very top of the hierarchy of Australian Pinot Noir. We cannot recommend these wines to you highly enough, and strongly suggest you act quickly to secure a few bottles.
Happy drinking.
Stewart, Marcus and Rhiannon.
