CRU Club - S.C.PANNELL Smart Grenache Six
CRU Club - S.C.PANNELL Smart Grenache Six
An alluring and highly aromatic fruit driven wine with cherry, raspberry, cranberry, Turkish delight, and background hints of earthy spice and mandarin peel.
The palate is similarly fresh, vivacious, fruit forward, perhaps a bit darker in fruit profile. It has a juicy, approachable, and supple texture especially through the middle of the palate. The subtle, fine yet gritty varietal tannins encircle the persistent finish of the wine. A lovely, enjoyable drink and open for business.
- Steve and Chris
From 67-year-old vines in Clarendon. Typically, this is the prettiest of the Pannell non-estate grenache pair, but the 2022 vintage has its say. It was a cool year, but one of particular tannic fortitude. And when paired with an energetic line of acidity, this is a release to hold for a bit. Quality and character stand firm, though. Dried cranberry and raspberry, sour cherry and sumac, rhubarb, burnt orange, toasted cinnamon and rose. It’s all there, just bound up presently, a little nervy, but it will no doubt tumble out in the mid-term. It’s a fine expression more in a nebbiolo state of mind.
Perhaps the finest vestige of old-vine grenache in the country, the Smart vineyard is elevated, cool and ferrous. Pannell seems to care little about the eucalypt inflections that mark his wines, presumably part of the terroir. I'll go with it. Bloodstone, tomato leaf, pickled ume, sour cherry and cardamon teem long. A wine of paradoxical beauty and older-school sensibilities.
- 95 points, Ned Goodwin MW - Wine Companion
