2020 Picardy Tete de Cuvee Pinot Noir, Pemberton

My oh my. I thought the 2018 was the best yet from Picardy, but this one might have just pipped it. Let me try it in another year before I get off the fence. This is power, precision and poise. A seductive perfumed aroma of cherry and raspberry and a vanillin spicy character emerging. Has a chalky minerality that threads carefully through the seamlessly structured palate carrying it to an endless finish. Just beautiful.

98 points rayjordanwine.com.au

Tête De Cuvée means the best wine of the vintage. This wine was born through Bill's and Dan's love of old world Pinot Noir wines and their desire to make the best Pinot Noir of which Picardy is capable.

This wine is not a reserve wine made in the usual method of selecting the best barrels for separate bottling. Instead, it is made entirely as a separate wine with a greater emphasis on intensity, complexity, structure and cellaring potential.

Picardy Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir from Pemberton is an exceptional, limited-release wine crafted by one of Western Australia’s most respected family-owned wineries. Picardy, founded by the Pannell family, is renowned for its focus on producing elegant, Burgundian-style wines that express the cool-climate terroir of the Pemberton region. The Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir is their flagship Pinot, showcasing meticulous vineyard practices, hand-picked grapes, and careful winemaking techniques to achieve a wine of depth, complexity, and finesse.

This Pinot Noir opens with a fragrant bouquet of red cherries, wild strawberries, and dark plums, mingled with floral notes of rose and violet, and a subtle hint of earthy forest floor. Oak aging adds delicate spice, vanilla, and a touch of smokiness, providing depth without overwhelming the purity of the fruit. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with silky tannins and bright acidity, creating a balanced and elegant structure. Flavors of red berries, dark chocolate, and a hint of savory herbs come together, leading to a long, refined finish that lingers with minerality and spice.

Ideal for pairing with dishes like duck confit, mushroom risotto, or roasted lamb, this Pinot Noir is a versatile and food-friendly choice. Its complexity and aging potential also make it a wonderful wine to cellar, promising further development over time.