Thistledown, Gorgeous Old Vine Shiraz, South Australia, Australia, 2023

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

The Shiraz was all picked from one old vineyard in the Riverland, a property that has been growing grapes since the early soldier settlements.

Winemaking

A small proportion of Zibibbo, otherwise known as Muscat, was co-fermented using wild yeasts. A short ageing in old French oak followed by bottling young to preserve the hugely aromatic, textural deliciousness that was sought from the outset.

Oak Ageing

Time: 1 Month
Type: French Oak
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: None

Tasting Note

Excited by the response they got from the Gorgeous Grenache, they have taken a similarly left-field take on Shiraz by taking old vines and co-fermenting with a little Zibibbo to make a delicious, but very different Shiraz. On the nose there are peaches, ripe nectarine, wild raspberry and a little spice. The palate is soft and slurpy, the texture silky and any tannins just add a little seasoning – like macerated strawberries and black pepper. Turning a previously undervalued resource into something that is hugely enjoyable and ultimately gorgeous.

Food Matching

Roasted lamb, beef stews and strong hard cheeses.