The story behind Chatto Wines
From their moves between the Hunter Valley, Tasmania and Burgundy, this winemaking pair is finding time to make their 2023s.
Keeping up with Jim and Daisy Chatto and their moves between the Hunter Valley, Tasmania and Burgundy isn’t easy. The story begins in 1994, when Jim moves from Tasmania to enrol in Charles Sturt University’s distance wine science course. He is smitten by McWilliam’s 1984 Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon and applies for a cellarhand position, isn’t successful, so applies to neighbour Tamburlaine, spending two years there. In 1998 he becomes winemaker at Rosevears Winery in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley.
In 2000 he returns the Hunter Valley to work at First Creek winery, and makes moves to establish his and Daisy’s eponymous winery in Tasmania’s Huon Valley. In 2007 he joins Pepper Tree Wines as chief winemaker, with an overview of its wines in Orange, Coonawarra and Wrattonbully. On May 1, 2013, he is appointed chief winemaker for McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant and its vineyards in Hilltops, Coonawarra and Margaret River.
By 2013 he and Daisy have planted a 1.5ha pinot noir vineyard and built a house for their children at Glaziers Bay in the Huon Valley of Tasmania, and Jim has made superb 2013 wines from the Hunter Valley. On August 17, 2013, a press release by McWilliam’s and Pipers Brook/Kreglinger announces his appointment as chief winemaker for both groups.
Then in 2020 Covid 19 strikes, and bushfires destroy the pinot noir (smoke taint), imperilling a sojourn to Burgundy. But they go anyway, and make a 2019 Burgundy while there, followed the year after by the 2020 Savigny-Lès-Beaune profiled this week. They make two Savigny-Lès-Beaunes premier crus in 2022; all this has been made possible by Jane Eyre, an Australian winemaker who worked in Burgundy since 2004. A March 3, 2023, press release announces Jim Chatto has returned to Pepper Tree as consultant winemaker commencing with the 2023 vintage, and Chatto is finding time to make his 2023s.
2021 Chatto Isle Huon Valley Pinot Noir
Four clones: 777, Abel, 667 and 115, all co-fermented with 12.5% whole bunch, the balance whole berry; matured for 10 months in French puncheons (20% new). The bouquet is full of wonder, unfolding as it is retasted, and the palate powers through to a peacock’s tail finish.
13.2% alc, screwcap
97 points, drink to 2035, $90
2021 Chatto Intrigue Huon Valley Pinot Noir
From eight clones, it opens with cherry fruit, spice, and cigar box oak, but the vibrant, fresh and pure palate, with its flavours of wild strawberries, and a savoury reprise of spice, set the wine off in a different direction. 13.3% alc, screwcap
96 points, drink to 2035, $75
2020 Chatto Savigny-Lès-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Vergelesses
15% whole bunch; 2 weeks on skins; matured for
12 months in French barriques. This is a bargain.
The perfumed bouquet is a garden of roses, the palate with red berries and cherries, given
structure by the gently savoury tannins on the finish. 13.5% alc, screwcap
96 points, drink to 2035, $125