Among the South Australian elite leading the charge and bringing to attention the greatness of Grenache are McLaren Vale's Thistledown; a love-child project between old friends and winemaking gurus Giles Corey MW and Fergal Tynan MW, founded back in 2010, that has come in for an overwhelming level of acclaim these past few vintages. It is deserved in every sense of the word - all of us here in the shop are unabashed fans and truly view these as world-class expressions, greatly poised and generous in their medium-bodied juicy dark fruit characteristics. Both the 'Charming Man' and 'Sands of Time' labels made Halliday's Top 100 Wines of the Year last vintage, while their 'Cunning Plan' Shiraz and Gorgeous Grenache/Grenache Rosé are particularly memorable at their price points. We'll have the winery's Director of Sales & Ambassador Paddy Gilhooly in to lead this weekend's tasting (many of you may remember his Scottish charm when he was in as host last year), so we hope you can make it down come 12-2pm Saturday and see the full range of brilliance on display.
Furthermore, if you're nearby Friday afternoon post-work, and in the mood for an end-of-week bev, be sure to drop in and try five quenchers from Heads of Noosa! There's the classic Japanese Lager, plus their Black Lager, Amber, Mid-strength, and Ginger Beer
Thistledown - on Special & Tasting
Saturday 5th April
12 to 2pm
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Gorgeous Grenache 2023 -
$23 on special this week; $26 RRP
"Medium ruby red colour. Raspberry, rhubarb and musk aromatics. Juicy and vibrant on the palate, red fruits, hints of rhubarb and graphite adding character. Acidity offers a puff of lift then fine tannins carry it along the line. Has a sense of fun and frivolity to it without falling away into sweet or simple." - Stuart Knox, The Real Review
Gorgeous Grenache Rosé 2024 -
$23 on special this week; $26 RRP
"Ultra pale, just a hint of coral pink on show. Toffee apple, cinnamon and baking pastry aromas. Soft and supple red fruits with a hint of creamy texture. Flows long, gliding rather than driving with hints of red apple and rhubarb for interest. While supple, the length is good and carries enough drying elements that it finishes clean." - 92 Points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review
'Cunning Plan' Shiraz 2023 -
$26 on special this week; $30 RRP
"Spicy, meaty, blackberry, blood plum and aniseed. It’s medium-bodied, again the meaty and spicy character, but with ample juicy dark fruit, vibrant acidity, and a grainy gently chalky grip to tannin, a slight juniper berry tang and pepper on a finish of very good length. Gee, I like this. It’s stylish and so nicely turned out." - 93 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
"There's a sweet floral/lemon note on the nose of graphite, pepper and earthy spice, the palate full and rounded, with ample drying, powdery tannins that augment the long finish. A shiraz of serious dimension, flavour and structure." - 93 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
'Thorny Devil' Old Vine Grenache 2024 -
$30 on special this week; $34 RRP
"A light, bright, cherry red in the glass. Pretty aromas of dried herbs, raspberry, sarsaparilla, bramble, clove and spice. Light in body, mouth-filling and with a lovely energy and purity on the palate. There's a drive of blue fruits, along with Asian spice, earth, textured tannins and crunchy, cranberry like acidity. Long and layered." - 92 Points, Aaron Brasher, The Real Review
'She's Electric' Old Vine Single Vineyard Grenache 2023 -
$49 on special this week; $55 RRP
"Vibrant ruby red hue. Nose is equally vibrant, raspberry, dried herbs and roses all leaping from the glass. This is benchmark delicious drinking, juicy raspberry fruit is lifted by crunchy acidity and for a moment you think that’s all then it morphs into a far more savoury tone with dried herbs and morcilla notes. Great length; tannins have a subtle influence towards the finish, more lifting than gripping so the end still has the same vitality as on entry." -
95 Points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review
"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." - 94+ Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
'Fool on the Hill' Eden Valley Grenache 2024 -
$84 on special this week; $96 RRP
"Cherry, blackcurrant, sage, spice, white pepper and dusty things It’s juicy and full of blackberry pastille, tannin is good, with something of a stony character, fine ‘minerally’ acidity, raspberry frog with spicy finish. It’s maybe a little too sweet and minty, though it’s a distinctive wine of high quality. Very Eden." - 93 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
'Charming Man' Single Vineyard Grenache 2024 -
$84 on special this week; $96 RRP
"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
'Sands of Time' Old Vine Single Vineyard Grenache 2024 -
$84 on special this week; $96 RRP
"From a 1957 patch in Blewitt Springs. Trott Vineyard. 33% whole bunch. Very aromatic, ripe raspberry, rosehip, exotic spice, slight liquorice, orange peel. Medium to full-bodied, but bright, but good concentration, raspberry, balanced acidity, fine stony tannin, albeit with some firmness, and excellent length, with something of an amaro tang on the finish and some peanut flavour. Super wine. It’s maybe a little warmer and more breathy than the Charming Man, but gee, it has impact and power." - 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
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- Also Available from Thistledown -
'Charming Man' Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 -
$84 on special; $96 RRP
(Last bottles of this vintage)
"It offers blood orange, rosemary, a hint of sage, fresh blood, layers of raspberry pip, a hint of star anise and loads of ground exotic five spice. This is supple and flowing in the mouth, with the 20% whole-bunch inclusion a suggestion of complexity and not an overwhelming quality. All of the components are in balance and harmony: it has no more fruit than tannin, no more flavor than freshness, no more complexity than vivacity. This is sensational and comes from an excellent vintage to boot." - 96 Points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
'Sands of Time' Old Vine Grenache 2023 -
$84 on special; $96 RRP
(Last bottles of this vintage)
"This is coiled but given air; the potential is evident, if not fully revealed. Blue and red floral notes, dark red cherries, orange oil and a humus-like earthiness. This is presently the most reticent member of the ’23 grenache suite, with acidity feeling vigorous against the tensile complement of tannins, both cinching in the fruit presently. Based on the track record and the impeccable framing of fruit and site that’s already evident, this will grow amply in stature, and what an exciting prospect that is.” - 97 Points, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion (included in Top 100 Wines of 2024)
Heads of Noosa
Friday (4th April) Tasting
4 to 6pm
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What's on Pour -
Japanese Lager
Japanese Black Lager
Amber Lager
3.5% Mid-strength
Ginger Beer
If you wish to buy any of these wines, please use the links above
Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions.
// Prices valid until Thursday the 10th of April