S.C. Pannell Basso Garnacha 2020 750ml

ABOUT The idea for an early-release, low-sulfur, unfiltered Grenache has been bubbling away for the past three years. Finally, in 2017, the right vintage conditions; cool and long, and the right vineyard: Dry-grown and pruned to single-bud spurs, sparked the Basso project in to life. From the Latin Bassus, meaning low, Basso is low in additions and speaks clearly of the place from which it comes. Simply stated, 2020 was a difficult year (read: pandemic, wildfires) but thankfully, the days got cooler sooner than anticipated allowing for long even ripening. This fruit was harvested from the McMurtrie Rd vineyard in McLaren Vale. The grapes were inoculated with a wild yeast starter (pied de cuve) and fermented on the skins for ten days. After being pressed to old French oak vats, the wine was aged quietly for ten months, undergoing malolactic fermentation. It was bottled without fining or filtration and a small 27 ppm hit of SO2. If the idea was a bright, crunchy and yet flavorsome red wine…mission accomplished. DATA Grapes: 100% Grenache Vineyard: McMurtrie Rd (McLaren Vale) Vine Age: 50-years-old Soil Type: Clay - sand - gravel Viticulture: Sustainable - practicing organic Fermentation: Pied de cuve (inoculated with wild yeast starter) – stainless-steel Skin Contact: 10 days Aging: 10 months in large French oak vats Alcohol: 14% pH: 3.54 Total Acidity: 5 g/L Total SO2: 27 ppm Total Production: 2,000 cases UPC: 9340076000346 TASTING NOTE Raspberry liqueur, red apple skin, autumn, dark spice and cinnamon; a seductive perfume that is vibrant. The palate follows through with a very berry freshness from red to blue. The texture is youthful and magically medium bodied. Tea like tannins, that are super fine and linger, carry the red fruits. Beautiful.