Thistledown, Where Eagles Dare Old Vine Single Vineyard Shiraz, Eden Valley, Barossa, 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

Perched high above the Barossa, the Eden Valley can be a precarious but highly rewarding place in which to grow grapes. This single vineyard, at 550m above sea level is hauntingly beautiful. Home to the majestic wedgetail eagle, the soils composed of pink quartz and ironstone, provide a formidable substrate in which the vines takes a tenuous hold. Fruit is sourced from one of Joel Mattschoss’ Mengler’s vineyards. The fruit is hand-picked and transferred to the winery.

Winemaking

20% of the total weight is placed in whole bunches in a concrete egg while the balance is crushed and placed on top. A spontaneous fermentation with no physical extraction aims to capture the rugged beauty of the vineyard while preserving the energy and vitality that are the hallmarks of our style. A brief post fermentation maceration is followed by pressing to French oak for 11 months (approx 20% is new).

Tasting Note

Fruit was sourced from Joel Mattschoss’ spectacular Trial Hill Vineyard for the first time. Old vines which follow the contours of the hill side. Hand picked and transferred to the winery on 19th March. Taut, intense and dark, despite the low extraction regime in the winery. Spicy dark red fruits, black olive, warm spice. Medium weight palate with energy and poise.

Food Matching

Big meaty dishes, with rich and reductive sauces.

Awards

Robert Parkers Wine Advocate 97 Points
The 2024 Where Eagles Dare Shiraz hails from a single, tiered vineyard in Eden Valley at 480 meters in elevation. The old-vine fruit was handpicked and wild fermented in a single concrete egg prior to maturation in tight-grained French oak for 12 months. The wine is unreal—bright and shaped by powder-fine tannins that create serious structure and shape. The wine extends out through the long finish and allows all of the flavors to be unpicked at leisure. This is Eden Valley pure and true, the structure in the mouth showing the silty elegance of the old vines and the inherent balance of the wine defining the extent of pleasure felt here and now. I haven't yet said what it tastes like: crushed granite, with a cool mineral feel, raspberry seed, pressed flowers, some star anise and clove alongside blood orange, asphalt and raw cocoa. The wine is pure, a little herbal, exciting and succulent—mouthwatering, in fact, and chewy too. 97 Points, April 2025.
Wine Advocate 97 Points
The 2024 Where Eagles Dare Shiraz hails from a single, tiered vineyard in Eden Valley at 480 meters in elevation. The old-vine fruit was handpicked and wild fermented in a single concrete egg prior to maturation in tight-grained French oak for 12 months. The wine is unreal—bright and shaped by powder-fine tannins that create serious structure and shape. The wine extends out through the long finish and allows all of the flavors to be unpicked at leisure. This is Eden Valley pure and true, the structure in the mouth showing the silty elegance of the old vines and the inherent balance of the wine defining the extent of pleasure felt here and now. I haven't yet said what it tastes like: crushed granite, with a cool mineral feel, raspberry seed, pressed flowers, some star anise and clove alongside blood orange, asphalt and raw cocoa. The wine is pure, a little herbal, exciting and succulent—mouthwatering, in fact, and chewy too. 97 Points, EL, August 2025.