2022 Pannell, Grenache "Little Branch"

Premiereårgang for denne ny Grenache fra en mark i Blewitt Springs vest fra Brini og nord for High Sands. Mens Old McDonald ligger i 80 meters højde i Blewitt Spring er Little Branch i 120 meters højde, og Smart er den højeste med 230 meter. For Pannell er den ny Little Branch er den mest strukturerede og kraftfulde af disse vine, mens Smart er mere aromatiske og krydret og Old McDonald har den sødeste frugt, 2022 Little Branch åbner med en betagende flot næse med appelsinskal, jordbær, syrlige skovbær, hindbær og rustent krydderi i et luftigt og uhyre smukt billede. Smidig og poleret i munden med typisk Pannell fasthed, indsmigrende rødfrugtighed og tørrede, jordbundstoner, knasende stenet greb, masser af energi og stor aromatisk dybde, er den noget så ubesværet balanceret og harmonisk og viser fantastisk klasse i sit ungdommelige balancerede udtryk. Helt fremragende debut! (-2040+) *****

97 points Robert Parker Wine Advocate: "the new Little Branch Grenache from S.C. Pannell was so good that I bought a case straight off the bat...The 2022 Little Branch Grenache is from the newest estate vineyard for Pannell, in Blewitt Springs. The vines are old and are dry grown on sand-flecked ironstone. We know that Blewitt Springs is responsible for Grenache of great perfume and levity, while also being able to deliver tannins that are gossamer fine yet profuse. It's a special place. So here, we have a wine that is ultra perfumed from the get-go, with ripe strawberries, spices firmly on the "red" register of sumac, paprika and a hint of mustard seed, closing with rust and fresh blood. In the mouth, the wine is all silken earth; ferruginous tannins pave the way for a cavalcade of red fruit and a firm, almost tart finish. There is plenty to go on with here, the full package. This is a masterful first release. It's a little lighter and "redder" than the Old McDonald. It is layered and balanced. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap."

97 points Huon Hooke: "Good depth and hue of colour, with strong purple tints, the bouquet detailed and brooding with dried herbs, brown spices and well-worn leather and terracotta nuances, hints of tar and machine oil, the palate very full-bodied, power-packed and long, with masses of tannin which give it a firm and authoritative backbone. This is an outstanding grenache, very full-bodied and with long-term aging potential "