Thistledown, Gorgeous Grenache, South Australia, Australia, 2021

Producer Profile

Masters of Wine, Giles Cooke & Fergal Tynan, founded Thistledown Wines in 2010 after discovering iconic vineyard sites in the McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills.

They make hand-made, small batch wines that perfectly illustrate the benefits of great sites and intelligent, minimalist winemaking.

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 Ageing

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

The Wine Front 92 Points
Well, in 2021, it does live up to its name. Juicy red fruits, almond, a fair bit of spice, perfume and a little mint. Medium-bodied, a light dusting of tannin, clean acidity, red fruit succulence, but keeps itself dry and almost a little serious. Finish is good, gently saline, with playful tannin and quiet perfume. Delightful. Top value. 92 Points, GW, Dec 2021
Robert Parkers The Wine Advocate 90 Points
Having spent some time with Giles this past week tasting component parcels of each of the Grenache cuvées that he makes for the Thistledown range, I look at this 2021 Gorgeous Grenache in a whole new light. Yes, it is made in a juicy, easy-drinking fashion. However, the fruit quality that goes into this wine (from both Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale) builds a wine of eminent balance in the mouth. This is lighter-framed and shaped by fine powdery tannins, yet laden with juicy fruit. Plenty to love—drink it early. 90 Points, EL, July 2022.