Thistledown The Vagabond Grenache 2023
G 95 G 95
Fruit is from Blewitt Springs sites, all four dry grown. I’m not telling anyone anything new by saying this is yet another super-duper Grenache from the masters at Thistledown. What’s remarkable is the shift from red to black to blue fruit, almost like the dazzling lights of a kaleidoscope as it twists and turns. There is a winter pine herbal flicker and some wet potting mulch. Tongue-coating fine tannins and jasmine tea on the finish. A wine with sinew and fine elongated muscles – stunning. Drink now–2032
Thistledown Walking with Kings Roussanne, Grenache Blanc 2024
G 95
A lively wine with notes of green mango, cider apples and white peach. A hint of vanilla slice, baker’s flour and cold butter. The wine spreads widely across the palate and is then pulled taut by Grenache Blanc’s linear acidity. This is the decadence of scooping into white peach sorbet; it’s held beautifully by some phenolic texture and juicy lines of white citrus. A thoughtful and highly enjoyable wine for everyone from Gris drinkers to Chardonnay, so is its affability. Drink now–2030 Varney Wines Limited Release Grenache 2024 G 95 Old bush vine Grenache with vines around 70 years-plus. Sites across Blewitt Springs, Seaview and White Valley. Some whole bunch, carbonic maceration and into seasoned French oak for nine months. Bing cherries, black raspberries and a line of wild strawberries in vanilla syrup. Some charcoal, cardamom and clove. A fresh and juicy wine, punctured with dots of purple florals and a wonderfully satisfying mid-palate creaminess. The palate focuses more on its powdery tannins and savoury dark herb line. Black fruit too. An excellent wine that makes use of the quality fruit and display of diverse sites. Drink now–2032 Wirra Wirra Hickinbotham Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 G 95 From one of the McLaren Vale region’s more elevated sites in the Clarendon sector, this is fully geared Cabernet Sauvignon with a thread of menthol in the nose, dark concentrated elderberry flavours with delicious grapey drive, woody, leafy with typical varietal tannins for afters. Enough distinction here to suggest a focused terroir-driven expression for intellectual stimulation, as well as sensory pleasure. Drink now–2036 Wirra Wirra Chook Block Shiraz 2022 From Wirra’s estate vineyard in the region’s centre, this is an iconic style in package and its core liquid expression, a compact design of crushed crimson fruit with dusted minerals, fine oak giving spice and tight tannins. It’s an all-for-one, one-for- all work, everything in sync, elite at every step with alluring flavours, anise spice and finessed textures. Very stylish. Drink now–2038
268
The Vintage Journal
Powered by FlippingBook