2022 S.C. Pannell ‘Little Branch’ Grenache 6 Pack

97 POINTS

Ned Goodwin MW

This is an impactful grenache made by somebody who prizes Italian wines. The tannins are an immense force field, with kirsch, strawberries and dried Mediterranean herbs, and a note of almond husk that gives noble bitterness. The density, poise and grace are thoroughly impressive. This is a structured grenache built for the cellar. Drinkable now, but best from 2027.

96 POINTS

Marcus Ellis - Halliday's Wine Companion

From the new estate vineyard for Pannell, an old but recently viticulturally retooled site in Blewitt Springs. It will be fascinating to watch this bottling over the subsequent years as Stephen and co get the full benefit of enhanced farming reflected in bottle, but this is a very bright start. There’s presently a touch more flex and breadth than the other single site grenache bottlings, but still with the tenson of the year. Wild raspberry, redcurrant jelly, bitter red aperitivo, tamarind and sour cherry. Tannins are fine, insistent and sandy, acidity a driving force. This is a stellar debut.

93 POINTS

Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

A new wine! Hark! This is a grenache from Blewitt Springs and 30 year old vines grown on sand (with ironstone). This is a vineyard of Pannell family custodianship. A touch of whole bunch in the ferment, and 13 days on skins. In the bouquet, lots of cherry elixir, maraschino, pickled cherry, strawberry, raspberry lollies and whiffs of aniseed, cola and cardamom/caraway seed savouriness. The palate an able reflection of the bouquet, a cinch of building, dusty tannin wraps up soft, sweeter fruit character, cherry-berry things, lollies and jamminess underlying. The finish a touch breathy with a young port kind of character. It feels work in progress for balance, and maturity should deliver the savoury edge some seek. Good drinking, in its youthful vigour, however.