Picardy Pannell Family Pinot Noir 2024

Accolades

Gary Walsh
Red fruits and cherry, with cedar, spice, a touch of earthiness, mint and floral top notes. Medium-bodied, juicy and bright, with good length.

Tasting Notes

• Aromatics: Cherry, raspberry and cranberry with a gentle spice lift, plus mint and floral notes.
• Palate: Light to medium-bodied and juicy, with red fruits at the core, subtle savoury detail and a lightly grainy tannin profile.
• Finish: Bright, clean and nicely persistent with a faint stony, mineral feel.

Viticulture & Winemaking

• Region: Pemberton, Great Southern, Western Australia
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Fruit source: Estate-grown Pemberton Pinot, built for approachability and early enjoyment, while still keeping Picardy’s fine-boned structure.
• Style: Fresh, red-fruited, food-friendly Pinot Noir with restrained oak influence and an emphasis on balance.

Serving & Cellaring

• Serve: 14–16°C (a short chill makes the red-fruit and spice pop)
• Decant: Not required. A few minutes in the glass is enough.
• Cellar: Drink now to 2028 for best freshness and energy.

Food Pairing

• Roast chicken with herbs and lemon
• Duck or pork with cherry glaze
• Mushroom risotto or mushroom pasta
• Charcuterie, pâté and soft rind cheeses
• Grilled salmon or tuna

FAQ 🧐

Is this a heavy Pinot Noir?
No. It’s light to medium-bodied, focused on red fruit, freshness and drinkability.

What makes Pemberton Pinot different?
Pemberton’s cool climate helps Pinot keep perfume, acidity and fine tannin, which is why these wines can feel lively and food-friendly rather than heavy.

How We Store This Cork-Sealed Wine

You might not think about how your wine was stored before it reached you, but we do. How a cork-sealed bottle is stored can influence how well it retains its freshness, character and ageing potential.

Why Should Cork-Sealed Wine Be Stored on Its Side?

Storing wine on its side keeps the wine in contact with the cork, helping it remain moist, swollen and tightly sealed.

If a natural cork dries out and begins to shrink, unwanted air may gradually enter the bottle. This can cause the wine to age prematurely, lose its freshness and fruit character, or eventually become oxidised.

Temperature stability is also important. Regular temperature changes can cause the wine, bottle and closure to expand and contract, placing additional pressure on the seal. Keeping the bottle lying down in a temperature-stable environment helps protect the wine and allows it to develop as the winemaker intended.

Why Do Retailers Often Store Wine Upright?

Upright bottles are easier to display, allow customers to see the labels and require less specialised storage space. They are also quicker and easier for retailers to organise and pick from shelves.

For wines that sell quickly, a short period standing upright is unlikely to be a major concern. However, premium, limited-release and cellar-worthy wines may remain in storage for much longer. When you are spending good money on a special bottle, its storage history matters.

Proper horizontal storage requires more space and is less convenient for the retailer, which is why it is not always prioritised.

The Partners in Wine WA Difference

Every wine sealed under natural cork is stored lying down in our temperature-stable environment from the time it arrives until it leaves for its new home.

It takes up more room and requires greater care, but we believe it is worth doing properly. Whether you plan to open the bottle this weekend or keep it for a special occasion, you can be confident that it has been carefully stored while in our possession.

It is one of the small but important differences that comes from buying your wine from a specialist Western Australian wine retailer.

One qualification: I would only use this wording when you know the bottle has a natural cork. For DIAM, synthetic cork or other alternative closures, we may want to adjust the language slightly.