SC Pannell Koomilya Jc Block Shiraz 2021

SC Pannell Koomilya JC Block Shiraz 2021

Wedged between the original Upper Tintara vineyard – planted by the famous Doctor Kelly in 1862, and the Hope Farm or Seaview vineyard established in the early 1850s by George Manning,  Koomilya’s landscape and microclimate first captured the winemaker’s heart in December 1994 while Stephen was working with BRL Hardy. 

Despite visiting hundreds of vineyards across the globe, it was Koomilya that continued to call. Having expressed his wishes to one day own the vineyard should the then owner Don Cant ever look to sell, it was in late 2012 that the opportunity arose for Stephen and Fiona to become the new custodians of the 35 hectare property and so to the chance to regenerate an old Shiraz vineyard amongst an ancient landscape.

A single block Shiraz from 49 year old vines grown on ancient, dark grey slaty siltstone rich in ironstone rubble, facing southwest at an altitude of 120m. The JC Block is named for Jill Cant, the previous owner, and was the first block Stephen worked with on the vineyard during his tenure as Chief Red Winemaker at Hardys.

Hand harvested on the 3rd of March. Gently crushed and pumped to a large old oak fermenter acquired from a dear friend. Gently pressed after spontaneous fermentation and 14 days on skins. Settled in tank for 15 days before transfer to a two year old 2300L French oak vat for malolactic fermentation and extended maturation. Racked three times and bottled, unfined, on the 28th of October 2022.

Decidedly more savoury, with the dominance of beautifully red hued fruit in DC & GT giving way here to almost Pessac like dried thyme, iodine and roasted red earth, bordering to blue hued. It’s classic Australian garrigue framing the blue black fruit on the palate, with lavender, wood herb and just a suggestion of tomato leaf, white pepper and rooibos tea. Like all of the 2021 Koomilya bottlings, there is clarity and precision here – a really beautiful masterclass of tannin and acid interplay, that allows these wines to retain vibrancy and energy throughout.