| 1999 Picardy Tete de Cuvee - Pinot Noir |
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At long last it is finally available.The Pannell Family have made this wine in response to their desire to make a truly great Pinot Noir. Tete de Cuvee is a French term meaning “best of the vintage”. The decision to make the Tete de Cuvee was not taken with financial consideration in mind; passion must prevail. The parameters for the production of the Picardy Tete de Cuvee reflect those used in the production of the great Grand Cru wines of Burgundy. This allows the production of a Pinot Noir with substantial structure and longevity, whilst retaining fruit sweetness and elegance. This wine is not a reserve wine made in the traditional method of selecting the best barrels for separate bottling. Instead a portion of the vineyard receives extensive crop thinning and hand leaf plucking. The wine has intense fruit and assertive but fine grained tannins. Great complexity is achieved by the blending of five clones, of which three were imported from Burgundy. Every leaf is removed from the fruiting zone, to maximise fruit exposure. The vines are minimally cropped at thirty-five hectolitres per hectare (five tonnes per hectare). The Pannell Family are confident that the Picardy Tete de Cuvee will continue to drink superbly for many years after it has been released. The Pannell Family hope that you enjoy drinking this wine as much as they do. The Tete de Cuvee is produced in very small quantities; only 130 dozen of the 1999 vintage was made. Drink Now to 2010 |