Chatto
Jim Chatto, Gourmet Traveller winemaker of the year 2019. With over 20 years of winemaking experience, Jim Chatto is not just a cracking winemaker but also a senior wine show judge with over 18 years of experience (across both regional and capital city shows), and is currently the Chairman of Judges for the National Wine Show of Australia.
In 1998 Jim moved to Tasmania as the inaugural winemaker for Rosevears Estate in the Tamar Valley. He fell in love with Tasmanian Pinot Noir, and- funnily enough- a Tasmanian. In 2000 Jim and Daisy left Tasmania for the Hunter Valley but began the Chatto label to continue their affair with Pinot Noir. Together they spent the next six years searching for the perfect vineyard site. They found that in the Isle vineyard, located in Huon Valley at Glaziers Bay. This warm, well-drained site is situated in a very cool region, right on the edge of viticultural possibility, giving their grapes unique character and vibrancy.
Planting began in 2007 and their first vintage (2012) was released in 2013. By 2014, the fruit quality from pockets of the vineyard saw the introduction of the single-vineyard Isle label of pristine quality. Great wines from a great producer.
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