2022 Dead End McLaren Vale Tempranillo, S.C. Pannell

• Style: Savoury, perfumed Tempranillo
• Taste: Cherry compote, rose, marjoram; juicy with firm tannins
• Food: Braised beef, grilled lamb, game, mushroom risotto
• Occasion: Weeknight, Sunday lunch
• Serve: 16–18°C, decant 20 mins

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

A wine that unfolds rather than shouts. The 2022 Dead End preserves the restraint and precision Stephen Pannell has become known for: picking earlier than his peers keeps the fruit bright and lifted rather than jammy. Juicy and savoury in equal measure, with firm tannins that grip and sustain. The aromatics shine—cherry compote, rose petals, wild marjoram and a wisp of sandalwood invite you back to the glass again and again.

The Winery — S.C. Pannell

Stephen Pannell has risen from young Australian talent to one of the nation's most decorated winemakers, a two-time Jimmy Watson Trophy winner. Since 2014, he has owned 36 hectares of vineyard in McLaren Vale, giving him unprecedented control over fruit quality. His philosophy centres on vineyard discipline: better viticulture enables earlier picking, which preserves freshness. Minimal intervention follows in the cellar. The 2022 vintage comes from two sources (McLaren Flat's grey loam and Pannell's own Koomilya block on sandy soil in Upper Tintara), each fermented separately in open-top vessels before nine months in French oak puncheons. Bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve natural structure.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is a wine for the table, not the occasion alone. Pair it with braised beef, grilled lamb, game, or aged cheese; the tannin grip and acidity (5.3g/L) make it equally at home with mushroom risotto or charcuterie. Tempranillo finds its stride in McLaren Vale's Mediterranean-influenced climate, bridging Old World savoury with New World fruit generosity. The 2022 vintage's peculiar blessing—a delayed spring frost that cut yields but allowed slow, measured ripening in a dry autumn—created real depth. Serve at 16–18°C, decanting for 20 minutes. Whether weeknight or Sunday lunch, this is a reminder that the best wines emerge when a winemaker trusts their site and their instincts. Vegetarian and vegan friendly. Explore our full Tempranillo range and broader Australia selection.