Koomilya GT Block McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019

S.C. Pannell Koomilya GT Block McLaren Vale Shiraz 

Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Vintage: 2019

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Shiraz

ABV: 13.5%

Elegant and powerful, the 'GT Block' is an intense, deep garnet colour with notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, and violet. Flavours of sandalwood, bergamot and smoked brazil nut from the oak barrels are integrated with finely woven tannins that carry the intense fruit through the palate, giving superb length and a seamless finish.

In the Blewitt Springs subregion of McLaren Vale, the Koomilya vineyard was first planted in the late 1800s by the Hardy family. The vineyard is surrounded by forest, which is an important factor in moderating its microclimate. This is single block Shiraz from 31 year old vines grafted on old Gewurztraminer planted in 1974. Grown on ancient, dark grey slate, siltstone soils flecked with ironstone, south facing at an elevation of 116 metres, the 'GT Block' is named after the Gewurztraminer rootstock onto which the Shiraz is grafted.

Koomilya is the name of a 12-hectare vineyard at the end of Amery Road in the heart of McLaren Vale, purchased several years ago by winemaker Stephen Pannell. "When I was at Hardy’s, the fruit we got off this vineyard was superb, and one of the wines I made from it won the Jimmy Watson Trophy [at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show], so I jumped at the opportunity of buying it when it came up," he explains. First planted in the late 1800s, the combination of unusually sandy soils and old vine fruit gives an aromatic lift to the wines, setting them apart from the crowd.

In a very short space of time, Stephen Pannell has gone from being one of Australia’s best and brightest young talents to one of their most lauded winemakers. He is a two-time winner of the fabled Jimmy Watson Trophy, the most prestigious wine award in Australia, and also won the top prize at the Alternative Varietals Wine Show three out of the last five years. Stephen moved into his own McLaren Vale winery in 2014, and now owns 36 hectares of vineyard. This control over his fruit has enabled him to take quality to an even higher level.

https://pannell.com.au