*Available on Indent

Thistledown This Charming Man Grenache 2024

Halliday Wine Companion's 2024 Grenache of the Year, This Charming Man is from a remarkable old family vineyard that displays authoritative varietal expression - charming aromatics, pure fruit and spice and moreish crunchy structure.

Bottle Image

Tasting Notes

Thistledown This Charming Man Grenache 2024

"The 2024 The Charming Man Single Vineyard Grenache hails from Clarendon, on Brooks Road. The "Charming Man" is, of course, Bernard Smart, who sadly passed away in October 2023; his son, Wayne, continues the legacy there. The wine opens with blood orange, fresh lavender, crushed rose petals and frisky acidity. This is ferrous and bloody, layered with dried citrus and north African spices, which are no doubt driven from the iron-rich clays with siltstone and quartz of Clarendon. It is penetrating and intense, spicy and quite firm in its tannin profile, yet it is pliable, agile and exciting.
Despite the fine acid, there is no acid adjustment here. The oldest part of the vineyard is 102 years old, while the youngest part is 53 years old. The "young" vines have a higher fruiting zone, approximately six inches higher up than the oldest parts of the vineyard, meaning that it can be picked up to 10 days earlier. This "young" pocket has lower pH and higher total acidity, earlier flavor development and, hence, no added acidity. It's a superb wine, one that will evolve in the glass over the evening. Here's hoping it lasts that long." 97 Points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate

"From a slightly younger block (a mere 53 years old) on the Smart Vineyard in Clarendon. Rippling with dark raspberry aromas, an array of warm spices, blood oranges, pomegranate and dried roses. Fine satin stretched over an intricate framework built by lithe acidity and fine-grained tannins. 13.5% alchool." 97 points, Nick Ryan, The Australian Weekend Magazine

"This is from the Smart vineyard in Clarendon. I just had Giles Cooke MW over for a tasting, and he’s a very nice man, I must say. This was the standout wine of the tasting, and the best since 2021, so starting at the top… Fermented in a concrete pyramid with 20% whole bunch in the mix. Souk spices, red cherry, fresh raspberry, a bit stony and ferrous, Japanese ginger, rosehip, and gee, the aromatics here are quite something. Medium-bodied, a lovely tannin profile, mildly assertive but fine, with a pumice stone texture, acidity is pure with a cranberry crunch to it, and the finish is long and perfumed, with stony grip to close. This is a showstopper. Superb. Beautifully made and a bell-clear expression of Grenache." 96+ Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

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.

Producer website: https://www.thistledownwines.com/

Producer logo: Logo