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 from the winemaker: If there is one thing that Stephen learnt whilst working in Europe, it is that we should make wine that suits our local food and local climate. All summer long and throughout vintage we are treated to the seafood we catch off the south coast, ten minutes from McLaren Vale. In Stephen’s mind, there is nothing better than pairing a cool, crisp rosé with some freshly caught barbequed squid or garfish. That, simply, is the influence behind this wine, why Stephen makes it and why he finds it so exciting to drink.
63% Little Branch Vineyard, Blewitt Springs and 37% Olivers Road Vineyard, McLaren Vale. Both vineyards harvested on the 14th of March, immediately pressed to ensure the palest colour possible in the style of a true Vin Gris! Settled as juice for 10 days before a 12-day ferment. Settled and racked off yeast lees twice before bottling in late July. Alcohol 13%
The third year of the current LaNina cycle was cool and wet, leading to the most challenging growing season in living memory. High winter rainfall continued through spring delaying budburst and shoot growth. Unusual soil moisture made spraying and mid-row management a challenge. Thankfully, a dry mild summer followed, but the die was cast, and harvest was one of the latest on record. Low crops with long hang times are not common, however, these contradictory conditions did result in elegance and great flavour. A year that relied on attention to detail in vineyard to make great wine.
99% Grenache Noir, 1% Grenache Gris. Blood orange, pomegranate, watermelon, crushed rock, five spice, lilac and sherbet start proceedings before a delicate wave of aromas and flavours that must be good for you, including nutmeg, sandalwood and apple blossom. A rose to awaken the senses. Pomme fruit and fresh strawberry textures line the palate and frame a powerful drive through the middle. The finish is long and citrusy with mandarin peel following the wash of flavour and textures. Behaves like an energetic white wine.
94 points, Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion “This is at the extreme pale end of the blush spectrum, being made in a vin gris style with no pre-soak skin contact. The hue presages a delicacy of fruit expression across a compactly intense drive. Pink grapefruit, strawberry, cranberry, white cherry, watermelon and redcurrant, along with hints of cinnamon, sumac, rose and orange-skinned citrus peel. It’s dry, as the cuvée name suggests, with sprightly but composed acidity and a little pithiness providing apt ballast for the gently fleshy texture.
93 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “Arido means dry. And this is maybe as dry as Steve Pannell’s sense of humour. Very pale style of rosato here, but gee, it has energy and excellent texture. White cherry, rosehip, fennel, blanched almond. It’s chalky and kind of sappy, but has a quiet sort of succulence, and in a way it’s more like a textural white wine than a rosato, though I have no problem with that. So chalky and firm, a little pink grapefruit, white pepper, and excellent length and grip to close. A wonderful thing to drink. It’s almost electric, if not more than a little eclectic.”
RRP $34 Our Special Price $26.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
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