Description
Stephen Pannell marked 10 years of the S.C. Pannell label in style, buying a vineyard he’s loved for years, acquiring a winery and cellar door in the heart of McLaren Vale and scooping the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for his 2013 Adelaide Hills Syrah. He’s one of the most liked and respected winemakers in the business, loved also by a wine-drinking public looking for refreshing, aromatic white wines and reds that are approachable and moreish – in essence, wines that are serious while remaining irresistible to drink. It’s this that made him an irresistible choice as Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year in 2015. From its new permanent home in McLaren Vale, S.C. Pannell continues its quest for great “wines that are grown, not made” – wines that are delicious, that taste of where they’re from and that are a natural partner for the food and lifestyle of their home.
Stephen Pannell has twice won Australia’s most prestigious wine award, the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy – most recently in 2014 for his 2013 Adelaide Hills Syrah – and his reputation is further hinted at by his being named one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter Magazine.
He earned his stripes working with some Australia’s iconic wineries including Wirra Wirra, Hardy’s Tintara and BRL Hardy, where he was Chief Red Winemaker from 1999 to 2003. He has worked numerous overseas vintages at such places as Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Burgundy, Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and G.D. Vajra in Barolo.
In 2014, Steve further cemented his relationship with the great grapegrowing region that is South Australia by setting up a cellar door in the heart of McLaren Vale.
James Halliday on Steve Pannell “….Steve radiates intensity, and extended experience has resulted in wines of the highest quality right from the first vintage. The Pannells have purchased two vineyards in McLaren Vale,the first planted in 1891 with a precious 3.6ha of shiraz. A second property was purchased in 2014, lifting the estate vineyards to a total of 22ha. Steve manages the vineyard with the aim of generating full flavour ripeness as close to 13% as possible. The future for the Pannells is limitless, the icon status of the label already established. 5 Red Star Winery.“
About this wine by winemaker Stephen Pannell: ” The ‘Purple One’ is our all-rounder: anywhere, anytime with anything. A wine that comes from our amazingly textured McLaren Vale landscape representing the diversity possible of blended red wine. The climatic suitability of both Grenache and Touriga to the South Australian climate means fewer inputs required in the winery delivering wines with amazing depth, complexity, and flavour. Grenache brings lifted aromatics and its trademark sandy tannins. Shiraz chimes in with red fruits, spice, and weight, whilst the Touriga Nacional adds punchy plum pudding, dried spice and florals. The resultant wine is so much more than just the sum of its parts and is always irresistible.
“61% Grenache from old vine McLaren Vale, 25% Koomilya Shiraz and 14% Langhorne Creek Touriga Nacional. The Grenache and Shiraz were picked in late February, crushed and co- fermented spending 10 days on skins before gentle pressing. The Grenache Shiraz blend was sent to French oak puncheon for Maloactic fermentation before maturation in vat. The Touriga was picked in early April, crushed, and fermented in stainless steel with daily pump overs before pressing after 10 days on skins and sent to puncheon for malolactic fermentation and maturation. The final blend was decided in late February 2021 and settled in vat for a further 3 months. Bottled early June 2021 without finning or filtration. 13.5% alcohol
“Smell and tastes like GST: Raspberry bon bons, cherry, blueberry, dark chocolate, new work boots and classic Touriga panettone aromas to wrap it all up and fill the space. Allspice and terracotta tiles on the palate with a cascade of reliable fruit. A comfortable wine. Happy and alive, dependable, and friendly. A wine that never fails to deliver with a generous Italianate character to the finish. Medium bodied and complex. What’s not to love?”
91 points, Ned Goodwin for Halliday Wine Companion “This is good. Understated, before opening in the glass with a bit of a workout. Mid-weighted of feel with a carriage of tannins, pliant and chewy, binding kirsch, anise, lilac, mint, persimmon and purple-pastille accents. Spun long by a skein of saline freshness before an exclamation of oak at the finish. The sort of wine I could drink every day.”
RRP $34 *Our Special Price $26.99 a bottle when you buy 6 of this wine*
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