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Description
This Grenache from Thistledown comes from a single vineyard at the end of Chapel Hill Road, with a pretty wild story to tell.
The vineyard held both old and younger Grenache plantings, but almost saw a tragic end when a bird caught on fire from a power line then fell to the ground, taking the vineyard out with it. Somehow, some of those old bush vines survived the blaze - and we're certainly glad it did, because the fruit makes one luscious wine.
Highly aromatic, flavours of spiced wild strawberries, a rich, luxurious texture... really beautiful stuff.
95 points
"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."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)
94+ points
"Well, it’s Grenache maybe presented in something of a Burgundy style. Raspberry, strawberry, spice, mint and almond paste. Medium-bodied, silky and fine, red fruits, a lick of graphite tannin, balanced acidity, some Campari rolls in on a finish of excellent length. Lovely. Better again with a year or two to settle."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
