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Bill and Dan Pannell believe this is the best Chardonnay from Picardy to date, and it’s easy to see why - it’s a beautifully refined wine with complex character and varietal fruit nuances to therefore. Two new yeast strains were trialled alongside the primary yeast in this wine. One of these has made the blend more complex and added a fuller mid-palate to the wine while maintaining the traditional refined Picardy style. The 2005 Chardonnay has a refined complex nose showing floral, citrus and flinty aromas. The palate has excellent structure, with mineral characters and a tight tangy acid finish. Fruit flavours are complex and show lime, pear, hazelnut and honey as secondary characters. These characters will develop with careful ageing for around five to ten years or more. Once again, subtle oak usage shows through extending the palate with a lingering savoury finish. |
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What a charming wine! Having grown used to perhaps too many hefty, often heavily oaked WA Chardonnays (particularly several from Margaret River), one had a minor epiphany sipping this subtle medium bodied, beautifully balanced Pemberton wine. There is hazelnut, citrus and soft lees notes. It features a lovely balance of fruit, natural acidity, wonderful mouth-feel and lingering finish.Most importantly, the expression of varietal fruit is exquisite. This is elegant, new wave WA chardonnay that in my opinion is among the best in Australia. It’s slightly similar to other Australian celebrated cool-climate iconic Chardonnays, but this Picardy 2004 is subtler and I reckon better!“We are really happy with the Chardonnay,” said Dan. “We have been trying to refine the wine over the last couple of years and I believe this is very much where we want to be taking it.” |
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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.The 2003 Chardonnay 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. Drink now to 2013. |
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The 2002 Picardy Chardonnay was the product of an extremely low yielding vintage (approximately 1.4 tonnes per hectare). Regrettably miniscule production from this vintage will see prices rise (for the first time ever at Picardy). Fortunately, low yields and increasing vine age have led to the most powerful and concentrated Picardy Chardonnay to date. Aromas include cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon and honeydew melon. The palate also includes these characters, along with whiffs of toasty oak and breadiness. Acid and structure are reminiscent of the 2000, though the wine is slightly more viscous. Drink now to 2012 The 2001 Picardy Chardonnay won the best 2001 Chardonnay trophy at the 2002 Mount Barker Western Australian wine show. |
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This wine is once again vintaged in the traditional White Burgundy style, from the four clones imported from Burgundy. It has lovely perfume; which seduces rather than assaults the senses, with oak woven into the bouquet. The palate is complex with an enchanting savoury finish – one of the hallmarks of great Chardonnay. The 2001 is structured in the classical mould. Such is its balance; it can be enjoyed now or left for many years. For those of you who have had the previous vintages, this wine has some of the tightness of the 1999 with the fuller fruit of the 2000. Drink now to 2011 |
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This wine is once again in the traditional White Burgundian style, made from the four clones imported from Burgundy. It has lovely perfume, seducing rather than assaulting the senses, with oak woven into the bouquet. The palate is complex with an enchanting savoury finish – one of the hallmarks of great Chardonnay. The 2000 is structured in the classical mould. Such is its balance; it can be enjoyed now or left for several years. Drink Now |
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This wine will be reviewed again very soon. |
The product of a difficult season, beset by rain during the growing season, this wine was initially quite tight and fruit shy, with both fruit flavour and suppleness taking some time to emerge in bottle. It is now a lovely elegant wine with good structure, fruit and oak integration. Flavour profile includes cherry and truffle.
Drink now. |
This wine has developed beautifully with time in bottle. Its initial green edge has been replaced by rich sweet fruit encased in fine, grippy tannins. Aromas of violet, plum and blackberry have emerged. Beautifully integrated and powerful, this wine is superb now and will continue to improve.
Drink now to 2010. |
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