2017 S.C. Pannell Smart Vineyard Grenache, McLaren Vale

Hand-harvested on the 11th of March, traditionally vinified in small open-top fermenters with no whole bunch. Ten days on skins before gentle pressing and transferred to a 2500L, six year old French-oak vat and 4 year old French Oak puncheons for maturation before being bottled without filtration or finning 11 months later.

Amaro amore! A bright, red cherry, boysenberry, cranberry concoction of aromas backed by a herbal, purple basil laced pallet finishing with red jelly crystals.

Silky and dense, surprisingly weightier than the Old McDonald Grenache with a compactness that slowly unfurls with time in the glass. A tongue coating layer of tannin that fills all corners of the palate. Gentle and persistent. A different and very welcome energy to our other Grenaches.

“A finer boned, musky and spicy expression of Grenache here. It’s medium bodied, almost strict in structure, with firm dry tannin, pitch-perfect acidity giving energy, fresh raspberry and something like black tea, or that elusive ‘mineral’ thing, a pleasant perfumed herb character as a counterpoint, and a crisp and very long finish, closing with gustatory tannin and subtle bitterness. Wow.” 

“From 62yo vines on the Smart Vineyard in Clarendon, small batch-open fermented, no whole bunches, 10 days on skins, 11 months in French oak. This is the bees knees, the bouquet surging from the glass before you have had time to collect your wits, gathering pace on the vibrant palate and lingering aftertaste, the sultry perfume with exotic spices is initially brushed aside by the intensity of the palate where fine but persistent tannins sweep up pomegranate, cherry and wild strawberry as they pass through.”