2023 Thistledown The Cunning Plan Shiraz
2023 Thistledown The Cunning Plan Shiraz

2023 Thistledown The Cunning Plan Shiraz

95 pts
Thistledown |McLaren Vale |Shiraz
A spicy, velvety McLaren Vale Shiraz. Excellent value expression of a great Aussie wine style.
Price:
$24.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

The 2023 Thistledown The Cunning Plan Shiraz is an excellent value McLaren Vale red, from Master of Wine duo Fergal Tynan and Giles Cooke, with local winemaker Peter Leske adding that authentic Aussie touch.

Sourced from the low-yielding vines of Moray Park in McLaren Flat, this Shiraz captures the essence of the region’s intense dark fruit and lively spice. Gentle, minimal-intervention winemaking allows the fruit to shine—whole berries are wild-fermented, and the wine is aged in French oak with just 10% new, preserving its vibrant character and structure.

The nose opens with ripe plum, blackberry, and a subtle wood-spice, while the palate brings lush fruit intensity, velvety tannins, and a hint of peppery warmth. This is a full-bodied, slurpable Shiraz with loads of charm, perfect for pairing with anything from a rich lamb stew to a night in front of the fire.

Known for their Grenache prowess, Thistledown has crafted a Shiraz that’s equally enticing: robust, balanced, and great bang for buck.

95 points
"Tart boysenberry, black cherry, wild raspberry, anise, vanilla bean, pepper, roasted coffee, and violet… Mid-weighted with supple texture, composure and quietly compelling flow. Effortless and refined."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

93 points
"Gee, I like this. It’s stylish and so nicely turned out. Touch and go for 94 points, and the best Cunning Plan to date, I reckon."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

95 points - "From McLaren Flat, matured in mainly seasoned French oak, with 10% new. Tart boysenberry and black cherry, wild raspberry, anise, faint vanilla bean, a little pepper, roasted coffee bean, some light floral notes, violet and the like. Like last year, there’s an effortlessness about this wine, a mid-weighted ease and supple texture, its composure and flow quietly compelling." - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

93 points - "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. Touch and go for 94 points, and the best Cunning Plan to date, I reckon." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

92 points - "The 2023 Cunning Plan Shiraz is vibrant, high-toned and floral, with attractive red and purple fruits, energetic acid and tannins that feel embossed into the very experience. It’s cracking value for the money ($32 AUD/$21 USD/19 euros) and eloquently expresses McLaren Vale, most importantly." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

Gold Medal & 95 points - McLaren Vale Wine Show

The beautiful region of McLaren Vale is bounded by the Gulf to the West and the various ranges to the East and North. Geologically one of the most diverse regions on earth, it has long been the home to some of Australia’s finest expressions of Shiraz. Our fruit comes from the Moray Park vineyard in the McLaren Flat sub-region. Low yielding and ultra-intense, we handle the fruit gently to capture the delicious berry fruit character, overlaid with subtle wood-spice.

VITICULTURE

Our fruit comes from the Moray Park vineyard in the McLaren Flat sub-region. Picked on the way up to retain vibrancy and energy.

WINEMAKING

Winemaking is simple with The Cunning Plan. Take perfectly balanced fruit, pick, gently crush to preserve whole berries and allow to soak for 4 days prior to a wild fermentation. Wild fermented and then pressed to French oak only, with 10% new.

TASTING

Great depth of ripe plum and blackberry fruit flavours. A full bodied wine with a succulent palate, lively spices and fine velvety tannins.

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Shiraz
Country Australia
Region McLaren Vale
Australian State SA
Feature Vegan
Reviewed By The Wine Advocate
The Wine Front
Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 92
93
95
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Thistledown

Thistledown wines was founded by UK natives Fergal Tynan, and Giles Cooke, the two MWs met while they began their WSET studies and formed a fast and strong bond.

While they have vineyards and wineries across the globe, Thistledown holds a special place in their hearts, with many of Giles' first forays into MW wine travel happening around Australia.

With renowned local winemaker Peter Leske on hand year-round, Giles is still quite hands-on with Thistledown, ensuring to be downunder throughout the year at key points in the winemaking process.

Giles Cooke MW Thistledown

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