Koomilya Mataro Rose 2024

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.

"Steve Pannell is renowned for the excellent wines he makes from plots of old-vine shiraz and grenache – his nervy, spicy 2022 Little Branch Grenache, produced from a venerable vineyard he recently bought, was one of the best examples of the grape I tasted this year – and now he has nailed the pale, dry rosé style. It’s a serious wine that will get better with a few more years in the bottle, but it is also heaven now with chargrilled garlicky prawns." Max Allen | Top 20 Drinks of the Year | Australian Financial Review 2024

"Steve Pannell makes no bones about this being inspired by Bandol Rosé – Domaine Tempier in particular. This comes off some of the property’s original vines, dating back to the late 1800s. Direct press with minimal skin contact, then natural fermentation in tank for two weeks; raised in neutral puncheons for eight weeks on lees. Red fruited, with cranberry, redcurrant and wild strawberry, there’s also orange rind, pink grapefruit and mandarin, wisps of white peppery spice and some subdued florals. It’s a wine of import and ready charm, both expansive and refined, dry, subtly but purposely structured, and just such a delight." 96pts | Marcus Ellis | Halliday Wine Companion