TN: Picardy Pinot Noir 2017

[Waiters Friend]

This winery has been the best producer of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Pemberton region for some years now. Pinot is especially their passion, and they release a premium "Tete du Cuvee" as well as this standard model. The standard model is a six-pack buy for me each year.

Garnet in colour. Typical Picardy nose with red cherries and almost tart strawberries. There's some dried herbs and a degree of sappiness / stems character. The palate is light-to-medium, with a slightly slippery feel over the tongue. That viscosity is balanced by tingly acid, and there's fine but moderately grippy tannins in support. Good length.

This seems quite similar to how I recall Picardy pinots at about the same age. Still light and fresh, but enough elements in there to see it evolve with time and fill out a bit.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

This has grown in stature in the past three years, and filled out somewhat. The cherries and strawberries are still there, as are the herbs, but the tartness on the nose has largely disappeared, and the fruit has a little more depth.

The palate is where the biggest changes are, however. Acid is less prominent and appears softer, while the palate weight has increased a little, and the wine is now definitely medium-bodied. The velvety mouthfeel persists and adds interest to the wine.

2017 was a cooler vintage in south-west W.A. and I wasn't expecting this to be as good as it is. It's at a nice place in its development.

Cheers
Allan