🏆 98+ Points | One of Australia's Most Extraordinary Old-Vine Grenaches

A Century of Grenache History – The Sunset-Facing Vines of Blewitt Springs

98+ Points – Halliday Wine Companion | 98 Points – The Wine Front | 97 Points – The Real Review

Stephen Pannell's Little Branch Vineyard | Century-Old Bush Vines | McLaren Vale

2023 S.C. Pannell ‘Sunset 100’ Grenache

Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, South Australia

98+ Points – Halliday Wine Companion

98 Points – The Wine Front

97 Points – The R Review

RRP $250

There are great Australian Grenaches.

And then there are wines that redefine what Australian Grenache can achieve.

2023 S.C. PANNELL SUNSET 100 GRENACHE

This is one of those wines.

Produced from century-old bush vines in the extraordinary sandy soils of Blewitt Springs, Sunset 100 represents the culmination of Stephen Pannell's lifelong fascination with Grenache.

And the critics have responded with some remarkable scores.

98+ POINTS – HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION

98 POINTS – THE WINE FRONT

97 POINTS – THE R REVIEW

This is not simply another premium McLaren Vale Grenache.

It's a wine with genuine historical significance.

A wine that celebrates more than a century of viticulture.

And a wine that demonstrates just how profound Grenache can become when grown in the right place.

Sunrise and Sunset – Two Expressions of One Extraordinary Vineyard

This is one of the most fascinating wine projects in Australia.

In 2021, Stephen Pannell purchased the Little Branch vineyard in Blewitt Springs.

Within the property were two remarkable blocks of ancient Grenache bush vines, originally planted in 1922.

One block experiences the gentler morning sunlight.

The other receives the warmer afternoon sun.

Pannell recognised an extraordinary opportunity.

What if he made two separate wines from these historic vines?

One expressing the influence of the morning sun.

The other expressing the influence of the afternoon sun.

The result was:

SUNRISE 100

and:

SUNSET 100.

Two wines.

Two vineyard exposures.

One extraordinary piece of Australian wine history.

And the opportunity to taste how subtly different conditions can shape Grenache.

The Vineyard – Century-Old Bush Vines

The 2023 Sunset 100 comes from the historic Little Branch vineyard in Blewitt Springs.

The vines were planted in 1922.

Think about that for a moment.

These vines were already producing grapes before many of Australia's most celebrated modern wineries even existed.

They've survived generations of drought, heat, changing seasons and extraordinary developments in Australian viticulture.

And they're still producing fruit capable of making wines of remarkable complexity.

The vines grow in the ancient sandy soils for which Blewitt Springs has become internationally recognised.

These soils are particularly important for Grenache.

They can help produce wines of remarkable perfume, fine tannin and structural elegance.

And that's exactly what makes this part of McLaren Vale so exciting.

Tasting Notes – Depth, Power and Extraordinary Elegance

Sunset 100 is a deeply complex and beautifully structured Grenache.

The style combines concentration and richness with the perfume, freshness and fine tannins that distinguish the finest Blewitt Springs wines.

Expect:

• Black raspberry and dark cherry

• Wild strawberry and red plum

• Pomegranate

• Rose petals and dried flowers

• Bergamot and orange peel

• Star anise and exotic spice

• Dried herbs and thyme

• Fine white pepper

• Earthy mineral complexity

• Subtle tobacco and savoury notes

The aromatics are wonderfully expressive.

Dark and red berry fruits meet dried flowers, spice and savoury complexity.

The palate has impressive depth.

There's generous fruit concentration, but it never feels excessive.

Instead, everything is beautifully controlled.

The tannins are fine, persistent and remarkably structured.

Fresh acidity provides energy and definition.

And the finish is exceptionally long.

Powerful. Perfumed. Complex. Structured. Extraordinary.

This is serious Grenache.

Stephen Pannell – One of Australia's Great Grenache Pioneers

Few Australian winemakers have had a greater influence on the modern reputation of Grenache than Stephen Pannell.

For decades, Pannell has championed the variety's ability to produce wines of extraordinary perfume, finesse and structure.

At a time when many Australian red wines were becoming increasingly powerful and heavily extracted, Pannell was exploring a different direction.

He believed Grenache could offer the aromatic beauty of Pinot Noir and the structural complexity of Nebbiolo.

That vision helped transform the way Australian wine drinkers think about Grenache.

Today, McLaren Vale Grenache is recognised among Australia's most exciting red wine styles.

And Stephen Pannell has played an enormous role in that transformation.

But Sunset 100 represents something particularly special.

A wine from his own century-old vineyard.

A vineyard he can manage and understand in extraordinary detail.

And a wine that reflects decades of experience.

Blewitt Springs – One of Australia's Great Grenache Terroirs

Blewitt Springs has become one of the most important subregions in Australia for Grenache.

Its ancient sandy soils, relatively elevated vineyards and Mediterranean climate provide exceptional conditions for the variety.

Some of Australia's most celebrated Grenaches come from this part of McLaren Vale.

Wines such as:

Yangarra High Sands

MMAD Vineyard Grenache

Willunga 100 Trott Vineyard Grenache

and other remarkable old-vine releases.

These wines have helped demonstrate that Australian Grenache can be every bit as serious and collectible as the country's finest Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

And Sunset 100 belongs in that conversation.

The Difference Between Sunrise and Sunset

This is what makes the project so fascinating.

The two wines come from ancient Grenache vines within the same vineyard.

But their exposures are different.

SUNRISE 100

The morning-sun block.

Typically associated with a finer, more tightly structured expression, emphasising precision, freshness and mineral detail.

SUNSET 100

The afternoon-sun block.

Potentially showing greater fruit richness, depth and a broader, more generous texture.

These are stylistic tendencies rather than absolute rules, and the exact expression depends on the vintage.

But the opportunity to compare the two wines is extraordinary.

For serious Grenache enthusiasts, tasting Sunrise and Sunset side by side is one of the most fascinating ways to explore the influence of vineyard exposure.

A Wine for Serious Collectors

The 2023 Sunset 100 is not designed simply to be opened and consumed without thought.

This is a wine with exceptional structure, concentration and complexity.

It deserves time.

Time in the glass.

Time in the decanter.

And potentially many years in the cellar.

Suggested drinking window: 2026–2040+, subject to careful storage.

If opening now, consider decanting for one to two hours, tasting periodically as the wine develops.

The fruit, florals and savoury complexity should become increasingly expressive with air.

And if you're fortunate enough to own several bottles, this is exactly the sort of wine I'd be putting away.

Food Pairings

This is a magnificent wine for serious food.

Try it with:

• Roast duck

• Slow-roasted lamb shoulder

• Venison

• Chargrilled lamb

• Beef cheeks

• Wild mushroom risotto

• Truffle pasta

• Roast pork

• Aged hard cheeses

Personally, I'd love this with slow-roasted lamb.

The combination of rich meat, savoury herbs and fine Grenache tannins would be exceptional.

Why We Love It

Because this wine represents so much of what makes Australian wine extraordinary.

A vineyard planted more than a century ago.

Ancient Grenache bush vines.

The remarkable sandy soils of Blewitt Springs.

A winemaker who has spent decades championing the variety.

And three outstanding critical scores.

Look at what you're getting:

2023 Vintage

100% Grenache

Little Branch Vineyard

Century-Old Bush Vines Planted in 1922

Sunset-Facing Vineyard Exposure

Stephen Pannell – One of Australia's Great Grenache Pioneers

98+ Points – Halliday Wine Companion

98 Points – The Wine Front

97 Points – The Real Review

And:

RRP $250

This is a wine for people who appreciate the very finest expressions of Grenache.

For collectors fascinated by historic vineyards.

For drinkers who value perfume, structure and complexity.

And for anyone who wants to experience what Australian Grenache can achieve at the absolute highest level.

2023 S.C. PANNELL SUNSET 100 GRENACHE

Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, South Australia

98+ POINTS – HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION

98 POINTS – THE WINE FRONT

97 POINTS – THE REAL REVIEW

RRP $250

Century-old vines. Extraordinary perfume. Profound concentration. Beautifully structured tannins. Remarkable length.

ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY OLD-VINE GRENACHES.

If you love the greatest Grenaches of McLaren Vale, or the perfume and structure of fine Burgundy and Barolo, this is a wine that deserves a place in your cellar.