Description
This is a very special release for virtuoso winemaker, Steve Pannell. The 2021 DC Block Shiraz comes from the original plot that gave Koomilya its cult status. Named after Don Cant, a previous owner, this wine is all about tension and power.
Grown on slaty siltstone flecked with ironstone, the DC Block is the darkest and most intense of the trio. Aromas of brine, charcuterie, Satsuma plum, and Russian caravan tea swirl together, offering a savoury, almost umami experience on the nose. On the palate, it bursts with energy—cranberry, pomegranate, and sandalwood textures meld seamlessly with its coiled tannic structure, creating a wine that’s both full of power and elegantly poised.
Critics have been universally impressed by the DC Block's tension and depth. Marcus Ellis awarded it 97 points, praising its "brilliant" interplay of savoury tannins, sour cherry, and warm spice, noting that it’s expansive yet serene with beautifully extracted tannins. Meanwhile, Ned Goodwin MW echoed the sentiment, awarding 96 points, and describing its notes of rosewater, cherries, and dried lavender as "immaculate," pointing to the wine’s "toothsome" appeal and serious ageing potential.
With only 24 bottles available, the DC Block, with its balance of elegance and weight will appeal to those who appreciate a wine that can deliver both immediate pleasure and long-term complexity. A wine for the real collectors, this is premium McLaren Vale Shiraz at its seductive best.
97 points
“The fruit swoops in on the palate, expansive but serene, with ripples of texture, tannins extracted masterfully, caressing, savoury but not drying, quietly commanding. Brilliant.”
– Marcus Ellis (Wine Companion, August 2024)
96 points
“A historic site of old vines and meager, low-yielding soils. The wines are perfumed and immaculate, with no lack of structural components. They have the capacity to age, but most of all a winning toothsomeness demanding a revisit to the glass.”
– Ned Goodwin MW (JamesSuckling.com, March 2024)
96 points
"A beautiful and distinctive expression of Australian Shiraz. Yes."
- Gary Walsh (The wine Front)
| Price Bracket | $101 and Above |
| Type | Red |
| Body | Full Bodied |
| Variety | Shiraz |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | McLaren Vale |
| Australian State | SA |
| Feature |
High Score |
| Reviewed By |
The Wine Front Halliday Wine Companion James Suckling The Wine Advocate |
| Critic Score |
97 96 95 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
S.C. Pannell
Visionary winemaker Stephen Charles Pannell Discover S.C. Pannell
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