Thistledown Fool on the Hill Grenache 6pk 2022
*Available on Indent
Thistledown is the vision of Master of Wine, Giles Cooke. Choosing to focus on the Grenache grape shows the belief he has in the variety. A certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, they have secured numerous rare old vines and unique vineyards for the future. Working with growers across McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Riverland, they craft elegant, fine, aromatic reds, many destined to showcase Grenache's charm as a single variety. Thistledown wines are made in small quantities in the Adelaide Hills. s.
Thistledown Fool on the Hill Grenache 2022
The fruit for this 2022 Fool on the Hill Grenache hails from the Mattschoss vineyard in Eden Valley, and the wine veritably explodes with crushed rocks, black earth, clove and dried star anise, raspberry leaf tea and dehydrated orange peel. This comes alive in the mouth, where it is savory but spicy, totally New World and a little bit febrile, all the while pushing this forge of raspberry-inflected flavor across the tongue and through to the finish. This is a ripping wine, left of center, super, precise, a bit gritty, awesome. it is really contained in its shape.
Rating: 96 points
Source: Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Erin Larkin)
Thistledown Fool on the Hill Grenache 2022
Seldom does grenache from Barossa or Eden Valley equal that of the Vale. This is good, but darker of exposure than the luminosity of expressions closer to the coast. But it is still grenache, the finest red cultivar for the majority of Australian conditions by a country mile. Transcendental moments are inevitable, thus. Brambly forest berries, mint, amaro and anise. A swathe of eucalyptus dries the tannins, but there is plenty of push to the extract and underlying freshness for poise and drinkability.
93 points – Halliday Wine Companion (Ned Goodwin MW)
93 points – jamesSuckling.com (Ned Goodwin MW)
Thistledown Fool on the Hill Grenache 2022
I really love John Bonham’s drumming on Fool in the Rain. I have an affinity with fools.
Quite a saline expression of Grenache, with mixed berries, sage and a mint/gum leaf top note. Medium to full-bodied, red berries, salt and sage, a bit too leafy though has succulence of cherry and red fruit, dry tannin, and a briary finish of decent length. I like it, some brightness and life, but overall lacks some refreshment and drinking appeal.
Rating: 90 Points
Source: Gary Walsh, The wine Front
