| Spring 2004 |
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James Halliday (2005 Wine Companion – Harper Collins) has rated Picardy Winery with five stars, meaning that it is, in his terms an “outstanding winery regularly producing exemplary wines.” Contents:
2003 Chardonnay Following the miniscule quantity of the 2002 Picardy Chardonnay, the Pannell Family were hoping for a return to normal crop levels in 2003, but alas this was not to be and the 2003 was again a very low yielding vintage. The vintage conditions were very similar to 2002 with a long, cool but dry season, resulting in wines showing great cool climate characters and style. The 2003 Chardonnay is therefore quite similar to the 2002. It is true to what has become the Picardy Chardonnay style, confirming the Pannell Family's faith in the Dijon clones, Meyrieux barrels and their viticultural and winemaking techniques. It has a mid yellow to green hue, with a refined complex nose showing floral and flinty aromas, supported by subtle spicy (cinnamon and nutmeg) cedary characters. The palate has excellent structure, with quite luscious fruit and tight tangy acid. Fruit flavours are very complex and are at the lime, grass, honeydew melon end of the spectrum with hints of mineral, hazelnut, pear and honey as secondary characters. These characters are sure to develop with careful ageing for around 5 to 10 years or more. The oak is expertly married, extending the palate with a lingering savoury finish. The Pannell Family believe the 2003 Chardonnay has a fine balance of fruit, natural acidity and oak resulting in a wine which represents true varietal and regional expression and which can be confidently cellared. James Halliday (2005 Wine Companion – Harper Collins) considers the Picardy 2003 Chardonnay has “complex cashew and toast barrel ferment and malolactic ferment inputs into the aromas and flavours; light to medium-bodied; supple, smooth melon and stone fruit through to clean finish. Rating 93 Drink 2007” Back to top PREVIOUSLY RELEASED WINES 2001 Picardy Tete de Cuvee This release of the Tete de Cuvee has an incredibly complex aroma. Bready, biscuity, musk, ethereally perfumed, briar, leatherwood honey and truffle are a few appropriate descriptors. Palate weight and concentration are exceptional, with sweet fruit balanced by a hint of cherry pip sourness. Structure is provided by balanced acidity and lots of ripe, silky tannins. Its incredible complexity and concentration can be attributed to very low yields and a long, cool, dry vintage. Drink now to 2020 Ray Jordan (Wine - Western Australia’s Best, Published By: The West Australian Printed By: Scott Print November 2002) stated that the 1999 Tete de Cuvee (94/100) is "…starting to get something wild and pretty exciting here. The aroma is immediately complex with heaps of quite intense and penetrating aromas of cherry and subtle forest floor. The palate is firm with strong, powerful tannin. Palate is deep and carries great weight though the colour is light. A wine for the long haul. Will live for many years. A serious statement of pinot." Back to top 2002 Picardy Shiraz Another wonderful example of the Picardy Shiraz, reminiscent of the 2000, but with more opulence, silkiness and greater mouth feel. The nose has hints of chocolate and coffee, earth, plums and some intriguing high-toned floral aspects. The palate is marked by excellent concentration of the above characters along with suggestions of toasty oak and hints of white pepper. Structure as always is excellent, with plenty of acid and exceptionally well balanced, fine tannins. Bill and Dan feel that this wine shows strong resemblance to the wines of Cote Rotie. Drink now to 2020 James Halliday (2005 Wine Companion – Harper Collins) gave the Picardy 2002 Shiraz his top rating of “Outstanding. Wines of the highest quality, usually with a distinguished pedigree – Complex licorice, anise, spice, black plum and blackberry aromas and flavours flood the mouth. Rating 94 Drink 2012.” Max Allen’s (Taste, The Weekend Australian Magazine July 31- Aug 1 2004) comments for the 2002 Picardy Shiraz were “like many wineries around the country, this small one in Pemberton, Western Australia, is chasing the holy grail of making Pinot Noir, but I personally prefer its shiraz. This latest vintage is particularly good, with spicy, forest-floor flavours and a juicy, sinewy texture.” Mathew Dukes rated the Picardy 2001 Shiraz in The Expert Wine 100 – Best of Australia 2004 (Expertwine.com) commenting that “Dan and Bill Pannell combine palates and experience to show the Northern Rhone how it’s done – pepper, pepper and more pepper.” Back to top 2001 Picardy Merlot Cabernet This wine opens with complex aromas of violet, plum, chocolate and pencil shavings. The palate is a little riper than usual, with lovely plum and chocolate characters backed by toasty oak. Tannins are fine and extremely long. Drink 2004 to 2025 Ray Jordan says: “The 2001 Merlot Cabernet (91/100) is a mix of largely merlot, with almost equal portions of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. This is all about balance and subtlety, combining powerful and intensely flavoured fruit, but delivered with style and elegance. The deeply textured fruit has wonderful, fine, lingering tannins; building a firm structure to the sweet red berry fruits. Probably the most complete of the merlot cabernets to date and built for the long haul” (Wine - Western Australia’s Best published by: The West Australian and printed by: Scott Print November 2002). Back to top 2001 Picardy Merlimont This is a special blend of the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc which the Pannells have given an extra eight months in barrel (20 months total). Bill and Dan's aim is to produce a wine which is more approachable upon release than the traditional blend. This wine will nevertheless be drinking beautifully in 15 years. Aromas include chocolate, raspberry coulis, musk and violet. As a result of its extended maturation period, this wine is softer and more unctuous than would be the case otherwise. The palate is extremely smooth and long. Structure is still bold, with fine, ripe tannins supporting the palate. Drink now to 2015 James Halliday (2005 Wine Companion – Harper Collins) felt that this wine was “a complex amalgam of savoury/briary notes and black fruit aromas; intense blackcurrant in the mouthfeel; spice and cedar in the background.” |