Paxton Sangiovese 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Savoury, Herbal & Food-Friendly

A bright, savoury Sangiovese that brings the grape’s Italian personality into a very Australian setting. Expect pomegranate, rhubarb and red cherry, with dried oregano, native pepperberry and a featherlight touch of oak giving the wine plenty of aromatic detail. The palate is dry and medium-bodied, with punchy acidity and super smooth chalky tannins that keep it lively, structured and especially good at the table.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic, vegan suitable and no added preservative
• Crafted by Paxton Wines — a benchmark biodynamic producer in McLaren Vale
• Pomegranate, rhubarb, dried oregano and native pepperberry with chalky tannins
• From Gateway Vineyard on Reynella Siltstone in McLaren Vale
• Bright acid line, subtle oak and an earthy, food-ready finish
• 14.0% ABV

Tasting Notes

The fruit profile sits in that lovely red-fruited Sangiovese zone: pomegranate, rhubarb and red cherry rather than anything dark or plush. Dried oregano and native pepperberry bring savoury lift, while the tannins are super smooth but still chalky and ethereal enough to give the palate shape. There’s also a touch of oak and an umami thread running underneath, which makes the wine feel grounded and especially good with food.

Winemaking

The winery notes describe just a featherlite touch of oak, suggesting a restrained approach designed to support Sangiovese’s natural savoury line rather than soften it into something glossy. The result is a wine where fruit brightness, acidity and tannin stay in clear view, with subtle oak simply rounding the edges. It feels varietal and transparent, which suits the grape beautifully.

Vineyard & Vintage

This wine comes from Gateway Vineyard on Reynella Siltstone in McLaren Vale. Paxton’s vintage notes describe a low and slow season shaped by a cold, wet winter, one of the wettest springs in 30 years, windy weather through flowering and summer, and a ripening period that ran around three weeks late. The winery notes that organic and biodynamic farming helped the vines show real resilience, and the finished wines carry bright acidity, delicate flavour layers and strong longevity.

Why We Love It

This is a very clever bottle if you enjoy reds with freshness, herb detail and real food-pairing energy. It feels true to Sangiovese, but the native pepperberry and McLaren Vale fruit give it a distinctive local accent. There’s lots of personality here, yet it stays graceful and easy to drink.

Food Pairing

Sangiovese loves tomato, herbs, olive oil and anything with a little tang or savoury depth. This one is especially good with dishes that mirror its acidity and herbal edge, including plenty of vegetarian options.

Try matching this wine with →

• Pasta amatriciana — Find a Recipe
• Eggplant parmigiana — Find a Recipe
• Tuscan beef stew — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A great bottle for pasta night, long-table dinners and any menu where olive oil, herbs and tomatoes are doing the heavy lifting. It feels relaxed enough for midweek, but has more than enough character for a proper dinner.

Cellaring

It drinks very well now for its brightness and savoury energy, but the vintage notes suggest the 2023-derived wines have good longevity. Expect this to drink nicely over the next several years if stored well.

Producer

Paxton is one of McLaren Vale’s leading biodynamic estates, founded by viticulturist David Paxton in 1979. The family farms its vineyards under certified organic and biodynamic principles, with a deep focus on soil health, biodiversity and long-term resilience in the vineyard. That farming-first approach matters in wines like this because Sangiovese is a grape that shows site and season very clearly. In Paxton’s hands, it keeps its varietal savouriness and acidity, while still reflecting the brightness and generosity of McLaren Vale fruit grown on healthy, living soils.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy this savoury, Mediterranean-style red, these are excellent next bottles to try:

• Same producer, another bright food-friendly red with herbal lift — Paxton Tempranillo
• Same producer, juicy lighter red for a more chilled-back take — Paxton Queen of the Hive Light Red
• Same producer, fragrant Grenache with lifted spice — Paxton Grenache

FAQ

What does Paxton Sangiovese 2024 taste like?

It tastes of pomegranate, rhubarb and red cherry, with dried oregano, native pepperberry and a subtle umami edge. The palate is dry and medium-bodied, with chalky tannins and a bright, savoury finish.

Is this wine dry or sweet?

It is definitely dry. Organic Wine lists residual sugar at 2.6 g/L, so even with the juicy fruit profile, the wine finishes firmly in the dry camp.

What is the body and tannin level like?

This sits around medium-bodied with enough tannin to give proper structure, but the texture is smooth and chalky rather than firm or aggressive. The acidity is one of the key features, so it always feels lively.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

The current Organic Wine listing places it within No Added Preservative wines, alongside its certified organic and biodynamic credentials. Like all wines, it may still contain very small naturally occurring sulphites from fermentation.

Is Paxton Sangiovese organic, biodynamic and vegan?

Yes. Organic Wine lists it as certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable, which fits neatly with Paxton’s long-standing estate philosophy.

How should I serve this wine?

Serve it around 15–17°C in a medium red wine glass. You can give it a short decant for 15–20 minutes, but it also drinks very well straight from the bottle with a little air in the glass.

Can I cellar it?

Yes, for the medium term. It’s already delicious for its freshness and savoury detail, but the strong acid line and vintage conditions suggest it should evolve nicely over the next few years.

What foods pair best with it?

It’s excellent with tomato-based pasta, pizza, slow-cooked ragù, grilled vegetables and herb-led dishes. The acidity also makes it a very good partner for richer foods that need a red with freshness rather than heaviness.

Who will love this wine most?

This is ideal for drinkers who enjoy savoury Italian-style reds with plenty of acidity and food-pairing versatility. If you like bright, dry Sangiovese or reds that shine with dinner rather than on their own, this is a very good fit.

How long will it last once opened?

Recork it and keep it cool, and it should stay in good form for 2–3 days. On day two, the herbal and savoury notes often become even more expressive.

(SKU: PX_SAN_CV)