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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. 

Thistledown This Charming Man Grenache 2023
"Grenache & Blends of the Year. Score awarded by the Halliday tasting panel at the annual Awards judging. ME writes: Dry-grown bush vines fruit from the legendary Smart vineyard in Clarendon. Fermented wild with 20% whole bunches, matured in French hogsheads. This is early on this wine, with so much to unfurl, but the promise is striking. Sour cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, blood orange and a ferrous rockiness, white pepper, raspberry leaf tea and warm terracotta cast across a framework of finely lacy but expansive tannins. Ample air, over two days, sees this soar, though only time will unlock all its secrets. If a case still needs to be made for those that doubt McLaren Vale grenache is inimitable, thrilling and unquestionably world class, then here is Exhibit A. Stunning." 98 Points, AWARD WINNING VARIETAL, Special Value, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion

Thistledown This Charming Man Grenache 2023
The 2023 The Charming Man Single Vineyard Grenache is altogether moodier and darker than the Sands of Time tasted alongside it, but that is not making a comment on "weight" or "density" but rather on character. Here, we have blackberry and mulberry, raspberry pip and star anise, layers of coal dust, dirt and graphite, clove and even nutmeg/cinnamon. The tannins are über fine, chalky, grippy and gently chewy. It is a wonderful thing to experience the "feel" of the wine as much as the taste. Interacting with red wine in this way—and white as well—makes for thrilling drinking. It curls and winds its way through the long finish. It's super. A pleasure. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
Rating: 96 Points
Source: Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate

Thistledown This Charming Man Grenache 2023
It is inescapable, the need to compare the iconic grenache cuvees from this producer. Each superlative, vying for top position with the other each year, the seeding oscillating with vintage vagaries and mood. This is a richer geological mold, more ferrous of make up, resulting in a more ferruginous wine. Still, it’s mid-weighted of feel, due to the inherent freshness and bulletproof tannin profile, rocky and sublime. Thyme, dried lavender, kirsch, cardamon, tamarind and rose water. Exotic and resinous. Not the balletic pirouette of fragrance-meets-freshness of its sibling, necessarily. Yet, there’s more grunt, a little more extract, longer-limbed tannins and so much to believe in. Put this away for six-years and see what happens. I hedge towards magic, once the force-field of tannins settles.
Rating: 96 Points
Source: Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com

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