2023 S.C. Pannell Basso Garnacha, McLaren Vale

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. Drink 2025-2038.

95 points Erin Larkin robertparker.com September 2025

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.

94 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com October 2025

Aromas of Jolly Ranchers, raspberry confit, blackcurrants, blood oranges, graphite and potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied with a plush mouthfeel, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity, showing flavors of dark cherries, cola and dark chocolate. Well-balanced and fresh with a floral undertone. Drink or hold.

93 points jamessuckling.com March 2025

The S.C. Pannell Basso Garnacha from McLaren Vale is a bright, juicy expression of Grenache that’s all about drinkability and energy. Stephen Pannell has long been one of the country’s champions of this Mediterranean variety, and in the Basso range, he strips things back to focus on purity, vibrancy and minimal intervention. Basso means “low” in Italian, low sulphur, low oak influence, low interference, but there’s nothing low-impact about the flavour.

Sourced from old bush vines across McLaren Vale, the wine bursts from the glass with aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry compote, rose petals and a whisper of spice. The palate is supple and light on its feet, with fine tannins and just enough structure to keep things focused. It’s a wine made for drinking rather than cellaring, though it will hold its shape over a few years. If you're after a plush, high-octane red, look elsewhere. This is nimble, savoury and full of charm.

Pair it with charcuterie, grilled lamb chops, or a mushroom and lentil ragù. Try pairig it with warm mellow spices, maybe some Moroccan or Middle Eastern fare. Serve it at a cool room temperature to really let that freshness shine.