"Chris Coulter fell in love with wine in the early ‘90s. In ‘07 he undertook a winemaking degree and secured work with Australian Vintage Limited, gaining large-volume winemaking experience in Mildura and the Barossa Valley, remaining there through ’14 under Australian Vintage Limited, and thereafter as part of the 1847 winemaking team after its acquisition of the Yaldara site. Coulter Wines was born in the ’15 vintage as a side project, making wines from another universe – nothing other than SO₂ is added, movements are by gravity and the wine is unfiltered where practicable. He purchases and hand picks grapes from vineyards mainly in the Adelaide Hills."
JAMES HALLIDAY
Chris Coulter is the epitome of Australia’s modern winemaking renaissance. After gaining a winemaking degree he worked for many years for some of the high volume wine giants of the Australian industry, building technical mastery along the way but always harbouring the desire to make more honest wines.
A chance meeting with a mate, who despite having limited access to resources was punching out stunning small batch wine, set the wheels in motion.
Now a ‘five star’ Halliday-rated winery after just a handful of vintages, Coulter produces minimal intervention, small batch wines that focus on purity and freshness. To say he takes things seriously would be an understatement.
Coulter purchases grapes from a small number of meticulous, trusted cool-site growers, mostly in the Adelaide Hills, with all fruit handpicked and crushed on the same day.
The C1 Chardonnay is produced from a wonderful single vineyard in Echunga. Tight and beautifully focused while rich, weighted and full of flavour. The C3 Pinot Noir is from two cool sites - one in Balhannah and one in Carey Gully - delivering spicy red fruit, sous bois and evident whole bunch.
Rounding out the range are the savoury C2 carbonic maceration Sangiovese; the bright, spicy, smokey C5 Barbera; and the very limited C6 Gamay - full of fresh red fruits, crunchy acidity, and gentle grip. Limited time in barrel allows all the wines to retain their bright and vibrant fruitfulness with all wines released within 6 months of production.
Featured Wines
C3 Pinot Noir
2022
"It's fabulously poised and elegantly expressed on the nose with sweet cherry, thyme, nutmeg and subtle mushroom notes, followed by a concentrated palate that's refined and lingering. Juicy flavours upfront with spicy nuances, it's gorgeously framed by layers of polished tannins, finishing persistent and velvety. At its best: now to 2030."
95 points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
C1 Chardonnay Adelaide Hills
2022
"An embryonic chardonnay at this point, showing great promise all the same. The oak- derived tannins are still very present, yet the compact, mid-weighted palate boasts a thrust of fruit, parry of structure and considerable class. Truffled nougatine, marzipan and macadamia nuts. Nectarines and white peaches, too. The finish is long, cutting through the oaky bristle. One for ageing. Have faith and patience. Drink or hold. Screw cap."
93 Points, James Suckling
C4 Riesling Eden Valley
2022
"Expressing precision and elegance, the wine shows green apple, lime sorbet and wet limestone nuances on the nose, leading to a finely focused palate that's linear and persistent. Brilliantly structured by racy acidity, finishing impressively long and steely. At its best: 2026 to 2038."
94 Points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit