Thistledown, Fool On The Hill Single Vineyard Grenache, Eden Valley, Australia, 2024
Producer Profile
Thistledown was founded by Master of Wine, Giles Cooke who had a vision for a more elegant, textural interpretation of Australian wine.
Initial explorations resulted in access to many of the best vineyards, many of which were the previously unloved Old Vine Grenache. Incredible, historic fruit sources coupled with Giles’ increasingly adept efforts has quickly resulted in a reputation for being amongst the best in the country. Narrating the stories of these wines to an increasingly attentive global audience is Giles’ heartfelt commitment and mission.
Viticulture
The Fool on the Hill is sourced from a beautiful contoured site high above the Barossa Valley. Isolated and challenging, those pioneers who originally had the foresight to plant, must have sometimes questioned their sanity. Now on the second vintage from Joel Mattschoss’ Trial Hill Vineyard, these old bush trained vines have been brought back into rude health and their fruit is filed with energy, intensity and mineral strewn complexity.
Winemaking
The fruit was hand-picked early in the morning before swift transport to the winery where they retained 20% whole bunches. Wild fermented in concrete pyramid before pressing to large format seasoned oak for 11 months
Tasting Note
The first vintage from Joel Mattschoss’ Trial Hill Vineyard, these old bush trained vines have been brought back into rude health and their fruit is filed with energy, intensity and mineral strewn complexity.
Food matching
Salted Beef Brisket, Slow Roasted Pork Belly
Awards
Robert Parkers Wine Advocate 97+ Points
'The 2024 Fool on the Hill Grenache is from Eden Valley, and the wine is abundantly aromatic and eloquent of its place. The tiered vineyard site is up near Pewsey Vale and overlooks the Barossa from its vantage point of 500 meters above sea level. The wine is aromatically soft, textural and plump in the mouth, with rose petals and blood orange, red apples and redcurrants. With a hint of pomegranate molasses, the quartz comes through, and there's an integrated base of savory flavor that balances the exuberance of it. It's a highly attractive, gorgeous wine that speaks of the Eden in its splay of rocky tannin. It is chewy and powdery and fills the mouth with floral perfume. It fermented in concrete, which was a "layer cake of whole bunch and whole berry," says founder and winemaker Giles Cooke MW. The ferment received no pumping over, i.e., a very gentle extraction. Post ferment, it matured for 10 months in three- to five-year-old French puncheons. When I think of the three Grenache wines, I, perhaps controversially, given the others are from McLaren Vale, admire the tannin structure of this one the most. They all are magnificent wines. 97+ Points, April 2024.
Wine Advocate 97+ Points
The 2024 Fool on the Hill Grenache is from Eden Valley, and the wine is abundantly aromatic and eloquent of its place. The tiered vineyard site is up near Pewsey Vale and overlooks the Barossa from its vantage point of 500 meters above sea level. The wine is aromatically soft, textural and plump in the mouth, with rose petals and blood orange, red apples and redcurrants. With a hint of pomegranate molasses, the quartz comes through, and there's an integrated base of savory flavor that balances the exuberance of it. It's a highly attractive, gorgeous wine that speaks of the Eden in its splay of rocky tannin. It is chewy and powdery and fills the mouth with floral perfume. It fermented in concrete, which was a "layer cake of whole bunch and whole berry," says founder and winemaker Giles Cooke MW. The ferment received no pumping over, i.e., a very gentle extraction. Post ferment, it matured for 10 months in three- to five-year-old French puncheons. When I think of the three Grenache wines, I, perhaps controversially, given the others are from McLaren Vale, admire the tannin structure of this one the most. They all are magnificent wines. 97+ Points, EL, April 2025.
Grenache 100%
Oak Ageing
Time:
11 Months
Type:
500 litre French Oak
% wine oaked:
100
% new oak:
None
Vegetarian
Vegan
Closure
Colour
Case Size
