2024 Chatto Franklinii Pinot Noir, Huon Valley

Chatto Franklinii Pinot Noir from the Huon Valley is a cult-level Tasmanian wine that sells out swiftly every year — and for good reason. Made by Jim Chatto, one of Australia's most respected Pinot Noir specialists, this is a single-vineyard bottling from his coldest, most southerly site, the Franklinii vineyard on the banks of the Franklin River. It’s a site defined by low yields, long hang times and piercingly pure fruit, producing a Pinot that’s both fine-boned and deeply expressive.

The 2024 vintage continues the vineyard’s track record of producing wines with aromatic lift and crystalline detail. Fruit is hand harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts, often including a portion of whole bunches to bring structure and perfume. The wine is aged in a mix of seasoned French oak barrels, allowing the vineyard’s cool-climate signature to shine through unadorned.

The nose is intensely floral and ethereal, with aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry, crushed rose petals, bramble and forest floor. The palate is ultra-fine and silky, with perfectly weighted fruit, bright acidity, and a mineral line that pulses through the core. It’s light in body but deep in resonance, with flavours of cranberry, pomegranate, spice and gentle umami. The finish is long, savoury and hauntingly elegant.

Food pairing: beautiful with duck breast, confit mushroom, miso-glazed eggplant, grilled quail, or roast beetroot and chèvre salad. Also wonderful with soft cheeses like taleggio or triple-cream Brie.

Cellar potential: seductive now but structured for longevity. Best from 2025 onward, with potential to cellar gracefully for 10 to 15 years.