SC Pannell Old McDonald Grenache 2023

The 2023 Old McDonald Grenache from S.C. Pannell is a masterclass in old-vine elegance from McLaren Vale. From the glass it glows a deep ruby, and on the nose you’ll pick up wild raspberry, dried strawberry, blood orange and pomegranate, overlaid with spice, musk and a whisper of Turkish delight—such is the hallmark of these 80-year-old vines. On the palate the texture is both refined and purposeful: fine, talc-like tannins cradle juicy red fruits, while the sand-rich soils give a chalky minerality and lift. With only ~12% whole bunch inclusion and maturation in a large old French vat, the wine feels calm, precise and articulate—this is Grenache at its most poised. A beautiful vintage to enjoy now for its clarity, and to cellar for its evolving complexity.