Description
2026 Real Wine Vigneron of the Year – Stephen Pannell
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 from the winemakers: “100% Grenache Noir / Garnacha Tinta / Ganaxa / Cannonau – whatever the name it’s all the same to us!
“The idea for a low sulphur, unfiltered Grenache had been bubbling away for a few years and in 2017 access to the right fruit from an old dry-grown vineyard, sparked the Basso project to life. From the Latin Bassus, meaning low, refers to the minimal preservative used in the winemaking enabling this precious variety to speak clearly of where it is grown.
“The third year of a LaNina cycle (2021,2022 & 2023); a rare weather event that delivers wet winters and cool summers, favourable conditions for dry grown vineyards. The yields were small, concentrating flavours, and the long hang times delivered tannin intensity resulting in complex, age worthy wines. Stephen favours these cooler years and believes they will be highly acclaimed vintages and “ones to watch”.
“Pommegranate, boysenberry, raspberry, cherry, liquorice, musk lollies and exotic fenugreek aromas and flavours to match. The finish has a persistent raspberry jelly-crystal and pommegranate Turkish-delight flavour that is so appealing. Gateway Grenache ready for willing explorers. There is volume and richness that speaks of luxury but this year there is an exotic layer of rose petal and pistachio flavour lying in the tannins. The texture is supple, long and unabashed without being drying. Exotic, medium-bodied red wine from a warm region by the sea. Happy.”
95 points. Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate “The 2023 season in McLaren Vale was wet and cool. The wines have been sensational. Detailed, mineral, floral and a little ashy, I find them to be ethereal and beguiling. So here, the 2023 Basso Grenache is everything that the season promised, with notes of garden rose petals, a leafy, green tea note and all things exotic, like star anise/cracked fennel seed and caraway, even. The fruit here is handpicked from a dry-grown vineyard in Blewitt Springs. This is a super wine, with the tannin (and therefore texture) at the foreground of the experience, as usual.”
94 points. Huon Hooke, The Real Review “Very earthy, ‘rusty bucket’, mineral aroma that reminds of nebbiolo—as does the structure. It’s quite a full, tannic wine but the grip is right in context with the depth of savoury flavour. Approachable now and will make the most sense if partnered with protein. “
92 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “Juicy raspberry and grilled meat, spice, mint and perfume. It’s a rugged wine, basso is apposite, a sappy and juicy thing, ripe cherry and liqueur-like flavour, black olive and dry grainy grip on a warm finish of good length. It’s hearty and savoury style, that’s also gently jubey too, if that makes sense.”
RRP $34 Our Special Price $28.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.