97 points - "Good depth of red-purple colour; sweetly perfumed scent of dried flowers, dried herbs and ironstone, the palate powerfully concentrated and profoundly flavoured, with a fruit-sweet core and a big cushion of tannins, the entirety building towards a climactic finish that rolls on very long and satisfying. A majestic grenache that will reward long-term cellaring, but also gives great pleasure now." - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

96+ points - "The Smart and Old McDonald wines have left the Pannell grenache stable, with the focus on estate fruit. This from 35-year-old trellised vines, but now also with 40% of the centenarian bush vines; 12% whole bunch, maturation in old oak vat and puncheons. This is charming from first pour. Not flashy, just engaging and open, yet with trademark tannin scaffolding. Fruit flavours are a little darker, deeper than the '23, tracing the vintages. Red and black cherry, fresh and pressed rose, ras el hanout spicing, wild raspberry, pomegranate molasses, musk and rosewater, warm terracotta, dried orange and rust. The palate is savoury, absent a sweetspot; instead, fruit is enmeshed in those natural tannins – grippy, pithy, sandy and impressively persistent." - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 points - "Cherry, blueberry, dried flowers, a little spice and dried herb, almond paste, and quite some perfume all up. It’s medium-bodied, tight and stony, acidity has a crisp cranberry freshness, and it finishes with superb length and precision, and again that sort of cherry almond thing, which I love. Unreal." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

We grew the fruit on Little Branch Vineyard in Blewitt Springs,
which Fiona and I purchased in 2021. The vines sit on 50-
million-year-old soils comprising Maslin Beach Sands flecked
with ironstone at 140m above sea level.
Those close to me know that Fiona has always been my
greatest supporter and ally. Very few, however, realise the
support and care Fiona’s family has given me, especially her
parents, Malcolm and Antoinette Lindquist, whose belief in our
dreams has been unwavering. It’s fitting, then, to honour the
people who have been there for me. Lindquist is a Swedish
name and translates to ‘Linden twig’. With a bit of creative
licence, we took the translation and named our Blewitt Springs
Grenache vineyard ‘Little Branch’. This is the third vintage of
this special wine.
The 2024 rendition comprises one-third from 1920-planted
bush vines from the Sunset Block, one-third from 1920-
planted bush vines from the Sunrise Block, and one-third from
trellised vines on Block 1. The fruit was harvested on 8th, 9th
and 10th February 2024. Fermentation lasted 11, 12 and 15
days. The wine matured for 12 months in six 500-litre old
French puncheons. Malolactic conversion was completed in
June 2024, and the wine was bottled without fining at the
start of April,2025. Alcohol 14%; pH 3.50; TA 5.7g/L; total
sulphur 57ppm.

This is the first Little Branch Grenache release to include portions of the
1920-planted Sunrise and Sunset blocks. The inclusion of the old-vine
parcels has certainly added depth, complexity and intensity of
aroma/flavour, as well as more tannin. The wine is highly perfumed, with
raspberry, cranberry, dark cherry, blood orange, dried rose petals and
hints of sage and wet earth. The wine is darker, richer and more layered
than either the 2022 or 2023. It is a captivating, complex, medium-bodied
wine with beautiful, supple tannins and a persistent finish.– Stephen
Pannell