Picardy: Pannell Family hosts New & Pre-Release Tastings
"This legendary estate makes fabulously indulgent, showy and spicy Pinots, with a classical framework...I urge you to taste Picardy Pinot, not least because its value, compared to top-flight Burgundies, is unbelievable."
- Matthew Jukes
"Having already achieved legend status…Arguably these are Western Australia's finest..."
"...Pinot Noir of complexity, intensity and structure with a Burgundian accent..."
"5 star wine."
- Tom Kline, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
Sunday, September 6th
Hosted by the Pannell Family
Lunch: 12–3pm | 13 wines & 4 courses | $115
Masterclass: 4–6pm |13 wines & canapés | $55
Dinner: 6.30–9.30pm, 13 wines & 4 courses, $115
About Picardy
Picardy is one of Australia's leading premium boutique wine producers, established in 1993 in the Pemberton region of Western Australia. Picardy is owned and operated by Dan, Bill and Sandra Pannell.
Bill and Sandra were pioneers of the Margaret River region, establishing Moss Wood vineyard and winery in 1969. Moss Wood went on to be a driving force in establishing the region as one of Australia's best.
Influenced by the style of Pinot Noir made in Burgundy, Bill travelled to and fro learning from some of France's top producers, at one stage acquiring an interest in a famed Burgundian producer. Wishing to produce wines of similar elegance and complexity in Western Australia, The Pannells undertook significant effort to bring Burgundian clones of the variety to Western Australia. The arrival of the first clones was an historic event. A search for the optimal cool climate region to grow Pinot Noir led to Pemberton.
Dan has grown up in the wine industry. After completing a Bachelor of Science (Oenology) at The University Of Adelaide, he moved to Margaret River where he managed a winery before joining the family estate in Pemberton. Dan and Bill have made the wines together since Picardy's first vintage in 1996. Picardy produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Shiraz and a Merlot Cabernet blend.
All wines bearing the Picardy label are made entirely from our single vineyard property in the tranquil region of Pemberton. The region offers high altitude and close proximity to the ocean (for cooling summer breezes), thereby providing ideal conditions for cool climate wine production. The vineyard is endowed with deep gravelly loamy soils. Picardy practices sustainable vineyard management, always aiming to improve the soils. All Picardy fruit is estate grown, unirrigated, cane-pruned and hand-picked.
Picardy strives to continue the tradition of wine making quality and excellence.
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During Bill's and Sandra's involvement in a domaine in Burgundy in the 1980s, they became aware of a substantial clonal selection trial, which had been carried out for more than a decade. Several hundred selections of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay taken from many of the Domaines in Burgundy were trialled. Of these, four Chardonnay (76, 95, 96 and 277) and 3 Pinot Noir clones (114, 115 and 777) were selected.
The Pannells have now imported a further 6 clones of Pinot from Corton. These clones were chosen on the basis of the quality of wine produced from them, rather than yield. Friends in Burgundy advised Bill and Sandra to plant a mix of all of the clones to increase the complexity of the resulting wines. Observations to date suggest that there is considerable variation among the eleven clones of Pinot with respect to growth habits, bunch size, yields, flavour and wine structure. The importation of new Pinot Noir clones is a work in progress. The Sauvignon Blanc (3 clones), Semillon, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are also special selections, chosen with the same emphasis on quality in mind.
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At Picardy, the oak is used to accentuate the pure fruit of the Pemberton Region. It is chosen to compliment, not dominate, the wines. In 1998, Bill and Sandra went on a fact-finding mission to Burgundy, in particular to find a small, high quality barrel producer. Burgundian winemakers recommended Tonnellerie Meyrieux Fils, and close inspection found this French cooper shared Picardy's desire for optimum quality. Dan still visits Tonnellerie Meyrieux in an ongoing quest for excellence. Tonnellerie Meyrieux now makes up about 80% of the total barrique purchases. In the Picardy cellar, there is a range of oak from seven producers, six different toast levels and five different forests - with trials of new oak ongoing.
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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, made with an emphasis on intensity, complexity, structure and cellaring potential.
The Pemberton Region
Pemberton is one of Australia's newer wine regions, located in the South West of Western Australia. The first grapes were planted in 1977, with commercial plantings expanding throughout the 1980s.
Pemberton is an excellent region for viticulture because of its combination of southern latitude and high altitude, which create a relatively cool climate. This provides the grapes with a longer ripening period for optimal flavour development.
Pemberton's loamy, gravel soils and cool climate have proven it to be one of the best regions in Australia for the growing of pinot noir and chardonnay. The region is also well suited to the production of refined cool climate wines from a range of varieties.
The Wine List
On Arrival
2026 Picardy Sauvignon Blanc Semillon [New Release]
1st Bracket
2025 Pannell Family Chardonnay
This Pemberton chardonnay from Bill and Dan Pannell really does capture so much about this vintage and this region. It has all the delicacy and refinement you expect from Pemberton, but there is a gradual build-up of intensity, which is clearly evident on the palate. Lightly fragrant floral nuances on the nose, with very subtle cashew nuttiness and a faint citrusy contribution. The palate is a little deceptive in that it seems quite light, and yet the intensity builds and drives with some purpose through to a sustained finish. It's a most appealing wine of impeccable breeding.
95 Points - Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com
2025 Picardy Chardonnay [Pre-Release]
2024 Picardy Chardonnay [Sold Out]
2nd Bracket
2024 Pannell Family Pinot Noir
Erin Larkin, (Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate) on the Pannell Family range:
In the Picardy stable, this cuvée is the wine that is relied upon for winemaking trials and innovations. Having said that, the wine is notoriously hard to get a hold of due to its price point and reliability.
2023 Picardy Pinot Noir
Well, well, well. I expected the ’23 pinot from Picardy to be pretty special, and it is. Actually, it’s better than special. Aromatics are fragrant and alluring, with bright red fruits, a subtle truffly raspberry and cherry mix, and a touch of limestone nuance. The palate is simply sublime. This is pinot noir that helps define the variety in Western Australia. There’s power, effortless power, but it’s delivered with such finesse, cascading across the palate before flowing through to a very long finish.
97 Points - Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com
2023 Picardy Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir [New-Release]
My word this is a good and distinctive expression of Pinot Noir. Blackberry, cherry, black tea, dried mint, exotic spice and paprika, a little cedar oak in play. It's medium-bodied, offers an earthy feel to tannin, a little sappy with a roast red capsicum flavour, cherry and almond, finishing with juiciness, gentle grainy tannin grip and excellent length. Such a good wine.
95 Points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, 2026
3rd Bracket
2023 Picardy Shiraz
2021 Picardy Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
2019 Picardy Merlimont
Right Bank-inspired blend of dominant merlot with contributions from cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. It’s a slightly atypical Aussie style with its restrained elegance and less reliance on plump ripe fruit. This is one of the best. Bright aromas of bay leaf, black cherry and tomato bush. The palate is medium-weight with depth and poise. A fine lingering acidity takes it through to a sustained finish.
95 Points - Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com