Picardy is a traditional Burgundian style of Chardonnay with impressive aromatics and profound fruit character. The wine possesses all requisite floral and fine grassy sour sob/ oxalis grass characters expected in a young Burgundy. Picardy offers great texture and solid structure with high acid and extraordinarily low pH whilst retaining perfect balance. Crafted from grapes grown to four clones of vine imported from France, selected over a decade of trials out of a field of several hundred, grown to some of the most illustrious vineyards in Burgundy.
The history of Chardonnay at Picardy began when Bill and Sandra Pannell were fortunate enough to meet M. Vincent LeFlaive of the famous Puligny Montrachet, during his visit in 1989. Believing that Pemberton was ideal for the most refined styles of Chardonnay, Pannell decided to research the situation with respect to clones. Several hundred were trialled in Burgundy and four were selected, 76 and 95, 96 and 277, on the basis of the quality as opposed to yield. Twenty cuttings of each were imported into Western Australia, held in quarantine for the growing season of 1993 to 1994, replanted into the Picardy property the following spring. Picardy now has in excess of a thousand vines of each.
Bejewelled yellow colour. Bright and fresh, redolent with nectarine, while the oak adds a hint of spice and grilled nuts, very elegant, exhibiting minerally flavours, with the refinement and length of the great Burgundies, finishing on a note of citrus. The highlight is a purity of fine chardonnay fruit flavours, Picardy appeals as the quality of West Australian fruit shines within a fine Chablis styling.
