I am loving the Grenache's from Thistledown. The Thorny Devil sub £20 and Vagabond c£25 are fab, but this is on another level !
"From dry-grown old bush vines planted to red-brown sandy loams with quartz and ironstone in Seaview. Wild fermented with 50% whole bunches; eight months in French oak. This is such an aromatically distinctive wine, with all the Thistledown grenache bottlings so keenly differentiated – I would not tire if there were more! Open and perfumed at this early stage, with wild cherry, a garigue-like scrubby note, tart redcurrant, rhubarb and warm brown spices and a depth that belies the immediate fragrance, transparency and pale hue. The balance here is the quiet star, with ripples of texture radiating over the sandy coil of tannin, effortless but with latent power. Stunning." 96pts Halliday Wine Companion 2025
95pts Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Erin Larkin)
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.
