I am loving the Grenache's from Thistledown.
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.
The fruit was hand-picked early in the morning before swift transport to the winery where we retained 50% whole bunches. A gentle foot pressing helped establish the wild ferment. Once fermented, the wine was transferred to 500l puncheons & 300 litre used French oak hogsheads where it stayed for 8 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered
"The cuvée name and label art acknowledge the event that saw a bird electrified in power lines and torch half the vineyard – this comes from the remnant old vines. A pale, pinot-like hue, this is stunningly aromatic, red fruited, blooming with rose notes, though it’s also savoury and spicy. There’s fennel seed, a twigginiess of bunch, white pepper and cassia bark, a mulchy, dry-toned forest floor character, warm earth, a little salinity. Poised and elegant of feel, with almost a pinosity, echoing the colour. A little time in bottle is needed to cohere fruit and bunch notes, but the promise of intriguing tertiary fragrance is an exciting prospect." 95pts Marcus Ellis Halliday Wine Companion 2025
