Seriously delicious drinking without any waiting.
Huon Hooke (The Real Review)
About The Wine
Steve Pannell's love for Nebbiolo stretches back to his days in the famed hills of Barolo.
He's always been an advocate for the idea that we should grow the right grapes in the right place and with development of the Protero label, he's putting that plan down on paper.
He's been working with the fruit from the Baldasso vineyard in the Adelaide Hills since 2005. After taking over a lease on this site in 2019, he quickly replanted it to more suitable varieties for the area, save for the Nebbiolo, which has been in the ground since 1999 which was left untouched.
Now he's crafting this wine as a Nebbiolo that is up for immediate enjoyment - no need to cellar, this is ready to roll.
About S.C. Pannell
Quite simply, Stephen Pannell is one of Australia’s finest and most imaginative winemakers. He’s a Jimmy Watson Trophy winner, a McLaren Vale Bushing King winner, a two-time Max Schubert Trophy winner, International Red Winemaker of the Year and Decanter Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Contributors to the World of Wine. Nick Stock described him as potentially “one of the greatest Australian winemakers ever to make wines in our age”.
Steve’s wines are made with modern Australian food and wine culture at the front of mind. The wines come from a range of stunning McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills vineyards, and are made from sustainable varieties that properly suit his South Australian climate. They're built around brightness of fruit and savoury tannin structure, and whatever your poison is Steve has you covered!
He is truly one of the most forward thinking and inspirational Australian winemakers alive today.
McLaren Vale, SA
From the Producer
The dynamics of tannin, first and foremost, drive all of Stephen’s red-winemaking decisions. Steve loves good Nebbiolo, and good Nebbiolo hinges on understanding tannin. Back in 2004, Stephen Pannell's family returned from Piedmont to find Nebbiolo growing in the northern Adelaide Hills. The vineyard, just outside Gumeracha, was planted by Rose and Frank Baldasso in 1999. Steve started working with the fruit in 2005.
In late December 2019 Fiona and Steve signed a contract for the Baldassos’ vineyard. It was planted to all the wrong varieties bar one: five clones of Nebbiolo. A week later, it was on fire, and only through the courage of others was Protero spared. Surrounded by brave people, the Pannells knew they too had to be courageous. To that end they removed Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Viognier and planted varieties they like drinking and believe in for the region: Barbera, Dolcetto, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Riesling. They’re all well suited to the landscape, the region and in particular this place, Protero.
The label image is inspired by a Coptic Christian sigil – a good luck charm, basically, because as Stephen Pannell says, “We could all do with a little good luck”.
The inaugural release from the Protero Vineyard is everything Stephen Pannell had in mind: A pourable, slurpable Nebbiolo for everyone, anytime. It’s delicately floral and bursting with bright fruit, with beautifully integrated tannins that unfurl gently, plus lovely length and balance.
Blend : Nebbiolo (100%)
ABV : 14%
Closure : Screw Cap
Drink Until : 2024
Bottle Size : 750ml
McLaren Vale, SA
Critic Reviews
"Pale brick-red colour, with a smoked-meat, charcuterie, dried mushroom and vanilla bouquet; pot pourri and milk chocolate, too. The bouquet is seriously fragrant and lovely: dried flowers and dried herbs, while the palate is medium-bodied and appealingly soft and supple, with gentle tannins and early drinkability. A very charming nebbiolo. It's arguably forward-developed, but the upside is it makes seriously delicious drinking without any waiting." - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)
"Plum, baked strawberry and rhubarb, aniseed, dusty spices, mushroom and flowers. Medium-bodied, juicy red fruit with a spicy and earthy character, orange zest, fresh acidity, fine dusty tannin, and a zesty and amaro-laced finish of good length. Great drinking. Really hits the spot." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
Delivery is Free for any order of $99 or more, or just $10 for any orders less than $99. There is no minimum order quantity and you can mix and match as much as you like. Make your perfect mixed pack! In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Byron Bay we deliver with our own vans. All other areas are serviced by Australia Post.
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