S.C. Pannell

Ask any Aussie winemaker if they would take a 100-points from a renowned critic or the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy. Unquestionably, the Jimmy Watson would receive every vote. Granted, 100-points is a huge tribute however, it’s here today and gone tomorrow whereas, the Jimmy Watson stays for life. It is the one award, the pinnacle in the Auss... read moreie wine industry and embodiment of excellence that every winery dreams of winning. For Stephen Pannell, this marked his second Jimmy Watson trophy…

Unquestionably, Stephen was born with wine in his blood. His parents are wine legends Pamela and Dr. Bill Pannell, who pioneered Western Australian viticulture, founding Moss Wood in Margaret River in 1969. They also established Smithbrook Wines in the late 1980's, the first major vineyard in the Pemberton region, and Picardy Wines with Stephens's brother Daniel in 1993.
He studied viticulture and oenology at Roseworthy and, after graduation, travelled all over the world, with stints at Aldo Vajra in Barolo, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Domaine Dujac, Domaine Comte Lafon and Pousse d’Or. Once home (1995), Stephen’s reputation was cemented with his time at Hardy’s as Chief Winemaker, earning him a Jimmy Watson trophy in his first year with the ’95 Eileen Hardy Shiraz. 

He remained with Hardy’s for nine years, developing an intimate knowledge of the region’s vineyards and sub-regional differences. 2004, Stephen founded his own label with his wife Fiona Lindquist as he sought to express the full potential of the McLaren Vale region. The proximity of the Indian Ocean creates a cooling effect with considerable meso-climate variations, which Stephen wished to emphasise. The cooling feel is certainly evident in the ’13 Syrah as is the European flow to the wine… Stephen wants to portray a sense of place, celebrating provenance – terroir as the French refer to it.

Winemaking is low-intervention, native yeasts, open top fermenters and judicious use of large format neutral oak to mature the wines. Today, Stephen is widely regarded as one of Australia's most talented and imaginative winemakers – the accolades are embarrassing and on a ‘grand’ scale. The best of the best which include the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy twice, the Max Schubert Trophy twice, McLaren Vale Bushing King four times, International Red Winemaker of the Year, Decanter Magazine's 50 Most Influential Contributors to the World of Wine, and very recently collecting Halliday’s 2026 Best Shiraz of the Year in Australia for his Koomilya JC Block Shiraz 2022. 


Stuart McCloskey "This is very much my style of Aussie Shiraz / Syrah. The perfume sings to a glorious tune of sweet, blue and black berries, kirsch, violet, a dusting of white pepper, dark chocolate, iron filings, leather, garrigue and meat along with a touch of blood orange on the finish. The palate oozes with succulence – the fruit is wonderfully juicy which provides immediate satisfaction. The texture is more akin to Pinot Noir – svelte, cooling, seamless and glides across the palate on a sheet of silk. Tannins provide the tenderest of hugs – they literally melt away. Wonderfully caressing – sensitive winemaking, a wine full of finesse and serenity. The kind of wine you spend the evening with as there’s so much to unravel. A great Syrah in my books, particularly as it shows a sensitive side to this varietal. So beautiful. Quietly perfect. Drink now to 2030. Decanted for one-hour (longer is not necessary) and served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware."

Stephen Pannell and wife Fiona Lindquist from SC Pannell with the Jimmy Watson memorial trophy they won for their the Adelaide Hills 2013 Syrah.
"Soon after picking this fruit I knew the resulting wine was going to be special - I’m even quoted in an article stating I thought it was a chance for the Watson! I couldn’t wait to release it and as I look back now, the release of this wine marked a pivotal moment in our lives, a stroke of good fortune that established everything that we have today." 
- Stephen Pannell

Stephen's tasting note…
Flavour: “Aromas of cassis, fenugreek, charcuterie and tapenade are all consistent with nine years of bottle age. However, the surprise is in the abundance of fruit aromas: blackberry, blueberry and pomegranate followed by spices: Kampot pepper, red cedar and frankincense. Revealed with a little air is sea spray, petrichor, crushed rocks and roasted red capsicum. A viscous nose that wavers from black fruits to blue. The palate is more youthful than the nose with dark chocolate, clove, cinnamon, satsuma plum, lavender, rhubarb and preserved citrus.”

Texture: “Pure silk on entry with tannins that yawn, stretch and unwind as they progress across the palate. The texture and flavours meld like a Chesterfield on a blue slate floor with a vibrancy that belies its age. The long finish delivers another round of flavours and texture wavering between earth, spice and dark fruit. Power with delicacy and proof that Shiraz belongs in Australia, especially in cooler climates.”


Huon Hooke, 26 Oct 2023 "This just happens to be an outstanding wine, a Jimmy Watson Trophy winner, no less. At 10 years on, it is still a stunner, only a slightly different stunner to what it was in October 2014 when I first tasted it. Super-deep colour with some tawny and black tinges but also a trace of purple: remarkably youthful for its age. Ultra-complex bouquet of roasting meats, raisin-toast (with cinnamon!). In the mouth it's multi-layered and powerful, concentrated and intense, with great drive and persistence, and a profound depth of complex matured flavour. It still has many years ahead of it. A great wine for those who still think screwcaps compromise the aging of red wines."