Picardy Pinot Noir 2022

The 2022 Picardy Pinot Noir is a study in quiet sophistication. It carries itself with calm assurance, shaped by the cool, maritime climate of Pemberton and the meticulous care of a family that has spent decades refining their craft. The growing season was relatively cool and steady, allowing for gradual ripening and excellent acid retention. The result is a wine that feels composed from the first pour, guided by texture, savour and restraint rather than overt fruit or weight.

In the glass, it sits pale ruby with a garnet rim, transparent and alive. The aromatics are immediately elegant and savoury. Red cherry and cranberry form the fruit core, subtle and gently perfumed, layered with rose petal, orange peel and a trace of wild strawberry. But what defines the nose is not just fruit — it is the savoury undertow. Damp earth, black tea, dried thyme and a flicker of forest mushroom give the wine depth and a sense of rootedness. There is a whisper of spice, barely more than a suggestion of sandalwood or clove, folded neatly into the background.

The palate is silk-threaded and linear. Acidity is the wine’s scaffolding, pulling the fruit forward with clarity and length. Flavours of sour cherry, redcurrant and blood orange run along the spine, with savoury notes of olive tapenade, dry herbs and a cool, stony minerality emerging as the wine opens. The tannins are ultra-fine, almost powdery, offering structure without weight. There is no excess, no gloss. Just detail and rhythm, like a line drawing that becomes more expressive the longer you look at it.

The finish is long, restrained and clean. It does not fade into sweetness but into savoury tension — red fruit skin, citrus peel and dry earth lingering quietly. The 2022 vintage brings freshness and precision, perfectly suited to Picardy’s house style. It is not a wine of drama. It is a wine of poise, shape and slow-burning complexity.

Food should reflect the wine’s elegance. Roast duck with cherry jus, grilled quail, or mushroom ragoût with polenta would all sit beautifully beside it. A soft-washed rind cheese or lightly aged Comté would complement its savoury tones. Serve it just under room temperature, in a wide glass that allows for aromatic lift. No decanter needed. Just time and attention.

The 2022 Picardy Pinot Noir is one of Australia’s most composed expressions of the variety. It offers Burgundian sensibility filtered through a Western Australian lens — elegant, savoury, and finely tuned. It is not trying to impress with volume or density. It is content to be true to place and style. A wine that rewards a slower pace, and one that proves the power of restraint in the right hands.