| The Sydney Magazine 08 - Peter Bourne |
eat drinkwine new vintageBy Peter BourneThe Sydney Magazine 08Who is the next Giaconda or Torbreck? Peter Bourne introduces the rising stars of Australian wine.More than 20 years after the likes of Bass Phillip, Giaconda, Lakes Folly, Mount Mary, Pierro and Wendouree came onto the scene, a new generation of winemakers is trying to shake things up. Another name to look out for is Dan Pannell, whose parents, Bill and Sandra, began the Margaret River vineyard Moss Wood in 1969. The Pannells were convinced their children were uninterested in running the place and sold Moss Wood to their winemaker, Keith Mugford. But winemaking is in the blood. One son, Steve Pannell, became Hardys top red winemaker and now runs his own operation in McLaren Vale, while Dan Pannell ventured into wine retailing before launching Picardy wines in the Pemberton region of Western Australia, producing chardonnay, pinot noir and spicy, Rhone-style shiraz. Picardy wines show the individuality and style that set them apart from more pedestrian winemakers. 2005 Picardy Chardonnay, Pemberton, Western AustraliaThis chardonnay is at once fresh, bright and lively but also multilayered, rich and complex. It smells of wild honey, white peaches and ripe figs with an overlay of biscuity complexity. Try with steamed marron dipped in a spicy olive oil. |