S.C. Pannell Basso Garnacha 2018 (McLaren Vale, Grenache)

S.C.Pannell the label was established by Steve Pannell and wife Fiona in 2004, but Steve's journey to winemaking really dates back to 1969, where as a toddler he grew up on one of Australia's most iconic boutique wineries, Moss Wood in Margaret River.

Steve's holistic philosophy to winemaking starts with our climate, empahasises the importance on the vineyard, as well as wine's relation to food we love to grow, cook, and eat.

Stephen Pannell was also named Gourmet Traveller Wine Australian Winemaker of the Year in 2015.

Stephen’s extensive winemaking knowledge and experience has been garnered over years working with some of the world’s most prestigious wineries. He was Chief Red Winemaker at BRL Hardy from 1999 to 2003 and has worked 14 European vintages in Burgundy, Bordeaux, Barolo and Priorat.

Other highlights in include International Red Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge in London, the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show, twice winning the Max Schubert Trophy at the Adelaide Wine Show as well as being listed as one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter Magazine. The 2017 Basso Garnacha also won the Stodart Trophy - the first Grenache to be crowned with this award.

The idea for an early-release, low-sulphur, unfiltered Grenache had been bubbling away for a few years and in 2017 access to the right fruit from a dry-grown vineyard, sparked the Basso project in to life. From the Latin Bassus, meaning low, Basso is low in additions and speaks clearly of the place from which it comes.

Lighter, warm-climate red wines based on Grenache particularly from McLaren Vale have a growing place on the tables of Australian diners. Youthful and flavoursome wines that match where and how we live and the food we love to make and eat.

Simply stated, 2018 was a solid year. A vintage without extremes that was kind to both winemakers and vines alike. The fruit had lovely freshness and vivacity, the crops were of an average size and there was consistency throughout despite the dryness of the soil. Even the winemakers seemed to be enjoying themselves!

Hand harvested at 13.5 Baume, free run juice with minimal pressings, malolactic fermentation in Stainless steel with only 30ppm liquid Sulphur Dioxide added, elevage in 4600L French vats for ten months, racked and sent to bottle without filtration. Winery Notes

Reviews & Accolades

“Early-release, low-sulphur, unfiltered Grenache.” Raspberry, iron-filings, flowers and spice. It’s medium-bodied, juicy and lively, exuberant, but not sweet, with an under-current of ironstone, fine-grained tannin, cranberry acidity, and a musky perfumed finish of solid length, a stroke of emery tannin keeping it neat. It’s flat out delicious. Highly recommended."
92 Points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, March 2019, Drink: 2019 - 2022+