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, Steve says: “I love this wine and I love drinking it. It’s been stripped back from the artifice of winemaking to express the breadth and purity of McLaren Vale shiraz.”
Field Street Shiraz is S.C. Pannell’s single-vineyard estate-grown Shiraz, sourced from the 9 ha of vineyard that surrounds the cellar door on Olivers Road. The original Shiraz plantings are 1970 and the vineyard faces west to the gulf of St Vincent.
About this vintage from the winemaker: “Our signature house Field St Shiraz represents everything we stand for at S.C.Pannell. Sourced primarily from our prized Merrivale block in McLaren Vale, this wine captures the pure essence of our warm climate site characteristics.
“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. Unusually high 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 the vineyard to make great wine.
“This is McLaren Vale Shiraz in its most authentic form – crafted without winemaking artifice to showcase the natural purity and breadth of our exceptional fruit. Stephen’s philosophy is simple yet profound: preserve the vibrant fruit flavours while maintaining the wine’s natural weight, richness, and intensity.
“Perfect For: Wine lovers seeking authentic McLaren Vale character and those who appreciate pure, unmanipulated fruit expression.
“A deep well of dark flavours: Iodine, umami, soy, tar, Chambord liqueur, and boysenberry swirl followed by terracotta and sandalwood. The fruit sits happily inside the earth and forest flavours. Lively and sprightly like a quick dash across the dance floor impressing all with its easy glide and confidence. A bay leaf crunch accentuates the tannins in the mid palate making way for a dark and savoury finish. Drink and love it now, or keep for eight years and love it more.”- Stephen Pannell
New release and on song! Review for 2021 – 94 points, Ned Goodwin for Halliday Wine Companion “This is gorgeous wine of such imminent and visceral pleasure that it is hard to put down. A myriad of nooks, creases and textural crevices lie within. Drink in a mindless torpor, or with perspicacity. Either approach, a winner! Poise, freshness and danger, the calling cards. Blueberry, seaweed, cinnamon, tamarind, pomegranate and turmeric. The Indian potpourri of exotica with a carnal burr of tannin to the finish. Long and seamless. Just great to drink!”
RRP $37 *Our Special Price $28.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine*
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