June, 2017
Tyson Stelzer
Australian & New Zealand Wines of the Year 2017
96 points
Steve Pannell has long had his eye on the 85 year old shiraz block next to Kay’s vineyard. He finally acquired it in 2012 and this is the first release of the finest parcel of the block, to the tune of just 250 cases. An articulate voice of ancient vines, it’s wonderfully spicy and fragrant with sarsaparilla, anise and red and black berry fruits of all kinds, framed masterfully in Steve’s signature finely textured tannins, yet with a confidence and endurance that promise a long life. It captures the character of this special site.
October, 2016
Campbell Mattinson
The Wine Front
95 points
Funnily enough there’s a fair amount of artifice to be found in this wine; it boasts a fairly thick coating of toasty, malty, chocolatey oak. This is a smooth, rich and dense red, its liquorice and blackberry flavours presented in smooth and polished form. Tannin spreads through the wine like an irresistible idea, bringing spice, redcurrant and raspberry characters with it. It’s bright and dark at once, fresh and grumpy too, smooth but rugged. It has many, many years ahead of it.
Nick Stock
jamessuckling.com
96 points
Deep earthy and almost Italianesque in its savoury aura of aromas, some dried rose petals too. Liquorice, stony notes and a dark dried plum blackberry and succulent tannins wrapped in elixir-like dark plum fruits. Supple and rich with a long trail of polished tannin that has a deeply lustrous shine. Limousine-like length and luxury feel. Fine now and will improve for 20+ years. Best after 2020.
James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion 2916
95 points
The ultimate 'look, no hands' approach: crush and press the grapes into a five-year-old, 2700-litre vat, leave it strictly alone for 17 months, then bottle it. Deeply coloured, this is 100% full-bodied, with multiple layers of black fruits and ripe tannins blotting out everything else except bitter dark chocolate. Will be prodigiously long lived.
Jancis Robinson
jancisrobinson.com
17.5/20
Blackish crimson. Punchy and intense. But not sweet: treacle and balsam, succulent with lots of freshness. Dry finish and a sleeping giant. Not dry or drying. Lots of personality. Appetising and lively. 14%.
December, 2016
Philip Rich, Top 20 Wines of 2016
Financial Review
In 2012 Stephen Pannell bought a 32-hectare property in the upper Tintara subregion of McLaren Vale. Established in the late 19th century and with 12 hectares under vine, he renamed it Koomilya. This, his first Koomilya release, might just be the finest moment in what has already been a glittering career. Made with fruit from 80-year-old vines matured in an older 2500-litre vat and puncheon, it has earth, dark fruits and ironstone aromas. The palate has an old-vine creaminess balanced by ripe, persistent tannins.
Tyson Stelzer
Australian & New Zealand Wines of the Year 2017
96 points
Steve Pannell has long had his eye on the 85 year old shiraz block next to Kay’s vineyard. He finally acquired it in 2012 and this is the first release of the finest parcel of the block, to the tune of just 250 cases. An articulate voice of ancient vines, it’s wonderfully spicy and fragrant with sarsaparilla, anise and red and black berry fruits of all kinds, framed masterfully in Steve’s signature finely textured tannins, yet with a confidence and endurance that promise a long life. It captures the character of this special site.
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.