2017 Picardy Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc

Region: Pemberton, Western Australia, Australia

Grape: Merlot Cabernet, Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Culinary Suggestions: Grilled meats, roast lamb or pizza

Vineyard Practice: Sustainable (Vegan)

About

The Pannell name needs no introduction in the Australian wine industry.  The legendary Bill Pannell was instrumental in putting Western Australia on the fine wine map after planting vines on the renowned Moss Wood Vineyard at Margaret River in 1970 and producing some of Australia’s greatest Cabernet based wines. With the reputation of Moss Wood well and truly established, Bill sold Moss Wood and, together with son Dan, chose to turn their focus towards Burgundy in their new challenge – Picardy

They established the Picardy vineyard in WA’s cool Pemberton region from 1995 on a gentle north facing slope of well-drained loam/gravel soils at an altitude of 300 metres, just 35 kilometres from the cold Southern Ocean. Carefully selected Dijon clonal material of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay was planted at high density, to encourage competition and low yields per vine, and trained low as in Burgundy, to benefit from the heat radiating from the gravel soils in the evenings. Smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz were also planted. 

The Pannells believe in “growing soils” and so manage the vineyard sustainably.  Their meticulous detail among the vines includes crop thinning at veraison to reduce yields, removing any damaged or inferior fruit prior to harvest, and picking exclusively by hand. 

Picardy is now well established as one of Western Australia’s finest producers and is arguably the finest Pinot Noir producer in the state, with Chardonnay and Merlot blends not far behind. - Distributor Note

Tasting Notes

First impression: structure: Second impression: structure. This is a dry, tannic wine first and foremost, acidity prominent as well, though chocolate, undergrowth, meat and currant flavours all contribute to a characterful picture. There’s a graphite aspect here too, almost a minerality, almost into gun powder. I sat with this wine for an hour because it was all the time I had, but I suspect that it wanted much more. Leave this alone a few years and it will reward. Just don’t expect density or thickness; that’s not where its bets are placed.

92+ points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front August 2020

Drink: 2022 - 2030+

Picardy Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc is a blend of approximately 40% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a wine in the style of old world Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon producing regions - fruity but elegant and with excellent structure which will reward cellaring. The outstanding features of this wine are its structure, fine grained tannins, low pH without high acidity, excellent colour and pronounced fruit flavours. It should drink superbly for up to twenty years. - Picardy