September 2011

By Matt Wallace

 The Pannell Family are pleased to invite you to their Spring New Release Tastings to be Wednesday, September 14th 2011 (please contact us direct for your invitation). A highlight of the ‘Spring Tasting’ will be the opening of five vintages of the Picardy Tete de Cuvee Pinot Noir for your review.

Remember on the night, each order placed will go in the draw to win a magnum of Picardy 1999 Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

2011 PICARDY SAUVIGNON BLANC SEMILLON

Picardy’s Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2011 offers lifted tropical fruits with rock and honeydew melon. Full, inviting and complex. A superbly textural palate with a zingy core of acidity, clad in slightly under-ripe tropical fruits and grassiness suggested by the nose. Length is excellent, building to an intense crescendo.

Drink over the next 3 years.

Pairs well with Scallop Cerviche with a lime and coriander dressing.

2010 PICARDY CHARDONNAY

The 2010 Picardy Chardonnay is very much in the mould of the 2009 vintage, which is currently being served on Qantas First Class. It is consistent with Picardy’s trend towards finer lower alcohol Chardonnays. This vintage shows more minerality, less citrus (lemon) and more lime-blossom. The nose offers decadent smoky notes and subtle bacon aromas balanced by citrusy overtones. As ever the fruit is subtle, even understated but intense and compelling at the same time. The higher proportion of whole bunch gives this wine more texture. You can almost feel the tannin. The fruit sits in the tannin giving greater length with the gentle use of oak showing through (only 25% new barriques). Length is excellent and the low ph of this wine guarantees long cellaring, or an excellent match right now with local Marron gently poached in a cream and vermouth sauce with just a hint of chilli.

Drink now to 2018

2008 TETE DE CUVEE PINOT NOIR

Powerful, dark, truffles, forest floor, black fruits and sour cherry spring immediately to mind. The palate is (at the time of writing), still a little closed, so we recommend double decanting an hour or so prior to consumption. This wine is consistent in the style of Picardy Tete de Cuvee showing sourness and tightness. Taut yet supple fruits are supported by a significant quantity of whisper quiet tannins which protect the fruit, guaranteeing longevity. As this wine ages and tannins begin to soften, you will see an increase in the presence of sour cherry and truffle.

Drink now to 2020, with slow cooked pork belly with herbs.

By Jake Atkinson - Sommelier –Mojo’s Restaurant Bunbury WA
 
“All wines tasted and looking good, the Chardonnay is an absolute cracker! And the pinot is one of my favourites to date.”

The Pannell Family are pleased to invite you to their Autumn Release Tastings (please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for your personal invitation). A highlight of the ‘Autumn Tasting’ will be the opening of five vintages of the Picardy Pinot Noir for your review.
Remember on the night, each order placed will go in the draw to win a magnum of Picardy Pinot Noir.

2009 VINTAGE NOTES

2009 was a long, dry, cool vintage with naturally very low crop levels, resulting in magnificent fruit driven wines. Be warned the Picardy 2009 wines are all of very small volumes.