Thistledown, She's Electric Single Vineyard Old Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale, 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

Some vineyards have a remarkable story to tell and Thistledown came upon such a vineyard in late 2016. At the Seaview end of Chapel Hill Rd, it’s old bush vines contrasted by a planting of much younger Grenache. Apparently, half of the vineyard was burned when a bird caught light on a power line, fell to the ground and set light to the vineyard! They were so glad that some of the amazing old vines are still there for them to use. Dry grown, old bush vines, grown on red-brown sandy loams with quartz and ironstone. Low intervention viticulture with minimal spray regime, cover crops and promotion of biodiversity.

Winemaking

The fruit was hand-picked early in the morning before swift transport to the winery where they retained 50% whole bunches. A gentle foot pressing helped establish the wild ferment. Once fermented, the wine was transferred to 300 litre used French oak hogsheads where it stayed for 8 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Oak Ageing

Time: 8 Months
Type: French 300l oak hogshead
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: None

Tasting Note

Aromatic, fragrant and almost pinot-like, this wine has great energy. Cranberry, spice and wild cherry combine with silky texture to create a beautifully elegant red.

Food Matching

North African and Middle eastern cuisine or robust fish dishes.

Awards

Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95 Points
The 2023 She's Electric Old Vine Single Vineyard Grenache was handpicked, whole-bunch pressed and fermented wild with 50% whole bunches, then matured for 10 months in older French oak. The palate is complex and complete, with a ductile framework of tannin and lashings of exotic spice, raspberry compote, licorice and black tea. This is a superb wine; it's rich and big but so balanced. There is energy here, edgy, vibrant energy. 95 Points, EL, 2024.
James Suckling 95 Points
This grenache shows glorious riffs on tangerines, mandarin peel, kirsch, cranberries, cloves and mace with a succulent mouth-feel. Full, but feels more medium-bodied. Scintillating length with a briary, chewy edge. Wonderful drinking. Drink or hold. Screw cap. 95 Points, NG(MW), 2024.
The Real Review 95 points
In this gorgeously fragrant and dramatic grenache, they have absolutely captured the essence of old vine McLaren Vale grenache. Lovely vibrancy of colour in the glass. The aromas are alluring and complex. There's plenty of dried flowers, herbs, red and blue fruits and a sarsaparilla lift. The flavours are vivid and multi-faceted, all red fruits, spice and a creamy, textured mouth-feel. The tannins have a suppleness, yet real presence and the acidity delivers snap and crackle. Delicious gear. 95 Points, AB, 2024.
The Wine Front 94 Points
Seaview Grenache. 50% whole bunch. 2023 was a cool and late vintage. Strawberry, raspberry, spice, thyme, mint, Earl Grey tea, a Campari-like top note. It’s medium bodied, spicy with cherry and blood orange, fine white pepper dusted tannin, and some of that in the flavour department too, kind of bony, but juicy with strawberries too. Finish is powdery and long. Very good. 94 Points, GW, 2024.