2024 ChaLou Pinot Noir, Orange

40% whole bunch and remaining whole berry. Matured in 10% new French oak. Some deep tones of black fig and Bing cherries. A push of violet and lavender spice that works well with its treat bag of spices. There is crushed beetle, poppy seed and star anise. Turned potting soil and porcini mushroom. The bunch element manages to dial up the extract, providing quite a sinewy tannin palate. This has muscle as well as finesse. Think along the lines of a kick-ass pilates trainer. A wine to watch.

93 points Shanteh Wale winecompanion.com.au

The ChaLou Pinot Noir from Orange is a beautifully pure and elegant expression of cool-climate winemaking from one of Australia’s rising premium regions. Grown on the slopes of Mount Canobolas in Orange, New South Wales, the fruit benefits from high elevation, volcanic soils and a long, slow ripening season. The result is a wine that balances lifted aromatics, supple texture and mineral freshness with grace and precision.

Winemakers Nadja Wallington and Steve Mobbs, the husband-and-wife team behind ChaLou, have brought a modern edge to traditional craftsmanship. They focus on small-batch wines made with a light touch in the winery and a deep respect for site. Their Pinot Noir is the beating heart of the range — understated yet expressive, fruit-driven but never heavy-handed.

The wine offers vibrant red cherry, raspberry and hints of rose petal on the nose. The palate follows with delicate tannins, juicy red fruits, subtle spice and a clean, savoury finish. It's Pinot with lift, line and clarity — utterly drinkable, yet layered enough to reward a bit of contemplation.

This is the kind of Pinot that sings with dishes like roast duck, beetroot salad, or mushroom and thyme tart. It’s drinking beautifully now but will evolve nicely over the next five years.