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94
/ 100
Mike Bennie
Red
Classification
Syrah
Variety
2012
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
South Australia, Adelaide Hills
Region
14.0%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
94 / 100"Steve Pannell seems to be going from strength to strength with his range of wines. Sitting down with him you get the sense of a person very comfortable in their winemaking, dedicated to vineyard, a broad taster of wines and most importantly making wines that he wants to drink and likes to drink – the latter something that I find is surprisingly overlooked, often. Anyway, the fruit for this wine comes from Echunga in the south of the Adelaide Hills, but still at around 400 metres above sea level. Open ferments with about 25% whole bunch included, then spends 12 months in various French oak vessels. There’s so much flavour in this medium-bodied wine, layered with game characters, briary red fruit, exotic spice, a sapid trim from glossy acidity, a touch of peppery, dried herbs from whole bunch – it’s delicious! Simple. Aromas are glorious too – spicy, earthy, red and black berry fruit. The wine shows very fine dusty tannins, finishes trim and with a whip crack of drying amaro herb bitterness, just-so and refreshing. It’s joven in feel but will appeal to more curious drinkers too. Fruit verity to the fore, but complexity and drinkability in tow. Clever. Outstanding drinking."
- Mike Bennie
Tasting Notes
Sourced from a vineyard in Echunga, 410m above sea level and just down the road from the first vineyard planted in South Australia. Stephen has worked with this vineyard since 2010, and in 2014 won the Jimmy Watson trophy for the ‘13 vintage. The fruit is grown on well-drained, granitic soil, Stephen’s preference for Syrah. A Syrah instead of the traditional Shiraz, to prevent confusion and pay homage to the cool-climate style made in the northern Rhône Valley of France.
Consistently, a highly perfumed, vibrant and complex nose with prominent Nordic/Alpine berries, all spice, sandalwood and incense. A blue-fruited sense that slowly develops into
violets. Super-fine tannins on entry and right through the centre of the palate carrying supple fruit to a very long finish. The closest resemblance to St Joseph achieved so far and a fitting tribute to the cooler style of Shiraz.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity
- Smooth
- Complex