2018 Picardy Pinot Noir Tête de Cuvée

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 94 points

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  8/22/2021 - Steveleslie wrote: 95 Points

  A gorgeous Pemberton pinot, with perfumes of Chinese tea and spices, lovely texture and a gently rich palate of dark fruit with Burgundian sous bois characters of scented earth and forest. It is difficult to resist the temptation to ascribe a Burgundian comparison, for me the characters and textured weight remind me of Grand Cru Bonnes Mares, with the rich perfume of Chambolle Musigny combined with the wilder characters of Morey St Denis. At this stage it is still rather closed, but has the balance to open up over 5-15 years.

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  5/3/2020 - Greg Munyard Likes this wine:

  After being most impressed with the 2018 Picardy Pinot Noir (tasting note a couple of days ago), I progressed to their aptly named 2018 Tête de Cuvée. I have never before seen an Australian pinot of this calibre. And that's despite it being my favourite variety since I first drank the famous 1981 Moss Wood wine which also, BTW, was made by Bill Pannell when he was creating the legend which is that label. This Picardy stunner is however a joint effort of both Bill and his son Dan Pannell.
  
  With complex flavours embroidered on an elegant texture, it already has the flavour spectrum (including truffle hints) and smoothness of a mature wine. I could have mistaken it for a circa 10 year old Burgundy from a quality producer in a good year. Seamless and beautifully balanced, I was stunned at how well it drank at this stage. How can that be, given that this producer’s pinots improve for ~ 10 years (or so) … Pemberton tannins can be admirably fine and I put its velvety smooth elegance down to that, in a superb year coupled with fastidious vineyard management and deft, gentle handling in the winery.
  
  Compared to the standard release, it has darker fruit, is more complex and even better integrated, and is smoother with even more elegance. It evoked in me the setting of a top end restaurant with an ambience of low lights, velvet, beautiful timber, intimate tables and beautifully dressed discreet waiters…
  Disclosure: I have a relationship with this producer (because I regard it as one of Australia's best).

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