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.“
Winemaker Stephen Pannell about this wine: “The ‘Purple One” is our all-rounder, anywhere, anytime with anything red wine that comes from our amazingly textured McLaren Vale landscape and is representative of a movement away from single varietals to wines that better reflect the diversity of the region. The climatic suitability of both Grenache and Touriga to the South Australian climate means fewer inputs in the vineyard and winery thus increased sustainability whilst 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 adds pungent fruit characteristics of plum-pudding, dried spices and florals. The resultant wine is so much more than just the sum of its parts and is downright irresistible.
2018 – “A winemaker’s vintage with every scrap of experience tested and measured. Lower than average winter rainfall set up for a dry growing season resulting in dramatically reduced yields. The Adelaide Hills was most effected with some varieties down by 50%. In low yield years acidity is generally good setting the resulting wines up for stability and long lives.
“Grenache 60%, Shiraz 27%, Touriga Nacional 13%. Vibrant with immediate freshness. Fruit driven and loaded with turkish delight,
pomegranate and fresh raspberry. Followed by musk, star anise and nutmeg spice. Silky, slippery and juicy, medium-bodied and truly complex right throuh to the fine, subtle but plush finish. Ready to drink or cellar for 10 years.”
Gold Medal – 2018 McLaren Vale Wine Show for the 2017
95 points, Jane Faulkner for James Halliday “This trio has come together well to create a savoury, buoyant style. A core of tangy-tart-ripe fruit shines through with rose petal and red licorice aromatics. Layered up with squid ink, mace and patchouli working across the medium-bodied palate, grainy tannins in tow.”
RRP $33 Our Special Price $28.99 – LAST BOTTLES OF THIS VINTAGE
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