Thistledown, Gorgeous Grenache, South Australia, Australia, 2020

Producer Profile

Ever since historic Scots, James Busby and John MacArthur founded the Australian wine industry in the early 19th century, the relationship between Scotland and Australia has been an enduring one.

Guardians of a long history, Thistledown Wine Co. continues the tradition of Scottish ingenuity and great Australian wine. From their small-batch winery in the idyllic Adelaide Hills, they work with pristine fruit sourced from iconic vineyard sites.

Viticulture

Sourced from several Grenache vineyards across South Australia, including some of the region’s most iconic sites.

Winemaking

All vineyards are vinified in small batches, separately. Wild ferments, whole bunch inclusion, larger oak and no filtration or fining define the natural character of the wine.

Oak Aging

Time: 5 Months
Type: Old French Oak
% wine oaked: 5
% new oak: None

Tasting Note

Grenache is Australia’s signature grape variety and Thistledown are slightly obsessed with it. Utilising a range of premium vineyards across South Australia, they've crafted a wine that captures all that is good about Grenache. Aromatic and lifted on the nose with a beautifully layered, textural palate with wild strawberry and spice, succulent, juicy and Pinot-like in its profile while the finish is savoury and moreish.

Food Matching

Lighter meat dishes, pizza and pasta.

Awards

Ray Jordan 92 Points
'A delightful wine for current drinking. It’s light to medium bodied with the fruit sourced from throughout South Australia. Aromas of rustic strawberry with a little rose petal and spiciness. The palate is soft and supple but with good structure and poise. Bright and lively and a perfect wine for drinking slightly cool. 92 Points, RJ, March 2021.
James Halliday Wine Companion 91 Points
From a portfolio of multiple single-vineyard grenache offerings, this is more your everyday version, built from a range of old vineyards in the Riverland and McLaren Vale. Plenty of winemaking mods here: separation of parcels, wild ferments, a bit of whole bunch, older and larger oak containers, so it’s all about the grenache, lifted with crimson fruit crush, plenty of spice and a willingness to go with the wine’s inherent finishing tannin coating. 91 Points, NG, 2021.