Koomilya 'GT Block' Shiraz 2022

Stephen Pannell has twice won Australia’s most prestigious wine award, the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy – most recently in 2014 for his 2013 Adelaide Hills Syrah – and his reputation is further hinted at by his being named one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter Magazine.

In 2014, Steve won his second Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy and further cemented his relationship with the great grapegrowing region that is South Australia by setting up a cellar door in the heart of McLaren Vale. His local legend status has been confirmed again and again, winning the Bushing Trophy for best red wine of show in McLaren Vale no less than four times: 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2018.

A single-block Shiraz from 33-year-old vines grafted onto Gewürztraminer planted in 1974. Grown on slaty siltstone with laminated ironstone rubble at an altitude of 116m, facing south. This is the most isolated of the three blocks.

"The Koomilya shiraz trio tends to follow a similar pattern, showing distinctly different characters from three blocks in Upper Tintara so near to each other. The GT Block is usually the most fragrant, lithe and lifted and, while that is true, it is also true that this seems to have gone up in intensity and depth. The distinctive kelp, nori, dried violet and black tea notes are there, but there seems a deeper, more thrumming heartbeat this vintage, a core of dark minerals and spice. There’s also tapenade, pomegranate molasses, a hint of musk, even. Tannins are expertly extracted and this is made for the long haul." 97pts | Marcus Ellis | Halliday Wine Companion