2023 McLaren Vale Grenache/Shiraz/Touriga, S.C. Pannell

• Style: Silky, fruit-driven red blend
• Taste: Cherry, blueberry, dark chocolate, savoury depth, baked spice
• Food: Roasted game, lamb, dark chocolate desserts
• Occasion: Weeknight dinner, Sunday lunch
• Serve: 16–18°C, now or age 3–5 years

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

A silky, medium-bodied red that rewards the 2023 vintage's challenges. Cherry and blueberry fruit sit alongside dark chocolate and panettone spice from the Touriga, while racy acidity cuts through the generous texture. The palate speaks of old-vine Grenache depth and savoury complexity, with enough structure to age gracefully or drink beautifully now.

The Winery — S.C. Pannell

Stephen Pannell has established himself as one of Australia's most decorated winemakers, a two-time Jimmy Watson Trophy winner whose philosophy centres on minimal cellar intervention. His 36 hectares of McLaren Vale vineyard—including 68-year-old Grenache vines on deep sand—give him the control to pick early and capture acidity without heavy-handed winemaking. The 2023 blend pulls Shiraz for weight and later-picked Touriga for perfume; all three varieties ferment separately, then marry in bottle under screwcap to preserve freshness and the distinct character of fruit and place.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is a wine built for the table. Its bright acidity and silky texture make it generous with roasted game and lamb, yet equally at home alongside dark chocolate desserts or as an evening glass on a weeknight. Serve at 16–18°C and let it breathe; it drinks beautifully now but will reward patience for three to five years if you choose to hold it. If you're building a collection of Grenache & Garnacha wines or exploring what Australia does best in red blends, this sits alongside the finest examples we've found.