I attended the Picardy’s new vintage tasting at Lamont’s on Sunday the 8th September. Starting at 4pm, I was fortunate to be able to talk to the Pannell family about their wines and new releases. It was inspiring to talk to Bill and Sandra to learn how they set up their life in Margaret River first planting the grapes at infamous Moss Wood in 1970 and the events that followed. I was grateful to Dan for giving me his time for the first half hour on how the wines were made and the different clones used.

John Jens of Lamont’s writes “The Pannell family of Picardy have a love affair with life, and, as a part of this, follow their dreams. They love the Burgundy region, classical music and great books. In flavour, Sandra was a founding partner in the Margaret River Cheese Company and Bill makes horseradish sauce. They make their own olive oil and often roast their own coffee beans.
In wine, Bill and Sandra planted and operated Moss Wood, Margaret River’s second commercial scale vineyard, till the mid eighties and, for its first decade, Bill was the region’s unofficial but uncompromising flag bearer and image creator. They followed this with a several year involvement with Burgundy’s Domaine de La Pousse D’Or in Volnay before turning their energy to Smithbrook and then finally to Picardy in Pemberton in the south of Western Australia.”

 

We tasted the below wines:
2013 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon at $29.95: This is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon. Wonderful and aromatic with aromas of pineapple and passion fruit on the nose. On the palate I find it wonderfully fresh with fresh cut grass and I agree with Dan’s comments of a sweetness at the front palate.
2012 Chardonnay at $46.10: The notes that were given out at the tasting described how this wine was made from Dijon clones from Burgundy. A number of different types of clones may be associated with the same grape variety. For example clone a) for a Cabernet Sauvignon might give you 4 tons per acre at a weight of 0.90grams (of each berry) and a cluster weight of 150grams. Clone b) might yield less tons per acre say 2.5 and weigh less as a berry and cluster weight but the berry diameter might be wider. I like tasting the wines first and comparing my findings with the tasting notes provided. There is so much going on in this wine, I’m pleased the tastings notes written by Erin Larkin of Lamont’s and Max VeenHuyzen were to hand! Guava, flesh peach are two main characteristics I pick up from the nose with a wonderful velvet texture on the palate and follow through from the notes on the nose with a weight to it – the malolactic fermentation has helped add this dimension to the wine.
2011 Pinot Noir (Pannell Family) at $18: Made with young vines (6-8 years old), this has some lively ripe fruit with soft, supple berries and not overpowering. Two to three clones are used in this wine. The flavours and the characteristics are well matched to the price.
2011 Picardy Pinot Noir $46.10: This wine is made from older vines (compared to the Pannell Family Pinot) from 10-15 year old with 5 clones. Pronounced berry flavours with hints of raisin and spice spring up out of the glass with a touch of savouryness on the palate coupled with refreshing acidity and an underlying complexity. Drink now or keep for 2-5 years.
2010 Tete de Cuvee Pinot Noir at $80.50: Dan talked to me in detail about the viticulture behind this wine and how it was made (30% was whole bunch pressed) and further details in the vineyard such as the distance between the rows. I love learning about this as it all helps me to understand the wine better.  A glass of wine isn’t just ‘a glass of wine.’ There’s so much more to it; the people behind the label, the influences, the terroir, the clones, the style – everything! Just by smelling this wine you can tell there’s so much going on. You need to give it the attention it deserves, black olives, cherries, hints of caramel so many layers then there’s the real seriousness and complexity of the palate; wonderful fruit with ripeness and acidity and delicacy yet serious too.
2011 Shiraz at $36.20: There’s about 2% Viognier and 4% Malbec added to this wine. I love the earthy and spice flavours on the nose coupled with stewed plum which follows through on the palate. You can tell this would age well and develop further over the next 10 years.
2011 Merlot Cabernet at $32.90: I believe the varietals are 55% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc with a touch of Malbec. The Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are co fermented with the Merlot. Pencil shavings, roses, blackcurrant and black pepper fill the glass with flavours of spice, berries, notes of tobacco and ripe fruit follow on the palate. The spends 12 months in 20% new French oak barrels and could develop further in bottle over the coming years.
2011 Merlimont at $48.30: With the same blend as the 2011 Merlot Cabernet but aged a bit longer in oak it offers more secondary aromas with supple tannins coupled with refreshing acidity yet a depth to it and layers of wonderful flavours; ripe berries, raisins and spice.  I’d love to try this in another 5 years time, I bet it would taste even better!

To truely understand the story behind these wines and how the Pannell family started their life in the vineyards of Margaret River, I recommend reading Bill Pannell’s book ‘Once More Unto The Vine’. Their achievements and how they set up one of the most famous wineries in Margret River, Moss Wood followed by Smithbrook and then Picardy is described in the book. I couldn’t possibly and wouldn’t try and ‘ summarise’ a life time of work in one blog post, go out and buy yourself a copy!