2025 Thistledown This Charming Man Grenache

96 pts
An outstanding, graceful Grenache, from this iconic old vineyard in the Clarendon sub-region of McLaren Vale. Magic stuff for now or later.

Price:
Sale price$99.00
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In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Simply wonderful medium-bodied red out of McLaren Vale, so pure and precise, with great line, length and acidity.

It's 100% dry grown, bush vine Grenache from a 100+ year-old vineyard in Clarendon that has been maintained for generations by the Smart family - the charming man is one Bernard Smart...

Lightly tannic and lively-flavoured, it bursts with cherry and raspberry aromatics that make you return for sniff after sniff. Sweet red fruits and some spicy, graphitey notes flow on to a palate that is sandy, fine and, in a word... uplifting.

A few years would do it no harm but it wouldn't last that long in our cellar. A must-buy.

96 points
"A gutsy and deadly serious style of grenache that deserves and indeed begs for cellar time. Very impressive."
- Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

96 points - "Deep, bright red-purple colour; earthy, dark loam aromas overlying roast meats and peppery spices. A full-bodied grenache with massive, mouthcoating tannins that add impressive grip without astringency or bitterness. A gutsy and deadly serious style of grenache that deserves and indeed begs for cellar time. Very impressive." - Aaron Brasher (The Real Review)

92 points - "Beautiful, rosy and red fruited perfume with requisite spice. Appealing there. Quite chunky and warm for this release. Dark cherry, cola, raspberry, dried herbs, some game meat and toffee with some chocolate dust in the mix. Also, potent and generous, a little breathy. Concentration is impressive, tannins a touch extra silty and drying. A bit of booze soaked fruit character here too. It’s a bolder expression of this wine, done well in its way." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

91 points - "A ripe and opulent style, raspberry tart with spicy crust, marzipan and liquorice, dried roses, some lift. It’s leaning into a fuller bodied expression of Grenache, a sandy tannin grip, raspberry coulis, some alcohol warmth shows through, and the finish is drying with a spray of dried herb, some bitter orange peel, with a little tangy acid to close. It’s a robust wine, though it’s less charming than prior vintages, let’s just say." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

Customer Reviews

On a beautiful hillside in the Clarendon sub-region of McLaren Vale, three generations of the Smart family have devoted their lives to Grenache. Decades have passed where precious few valued their crop and yet they endured. That this remarkable vineyard has sustained is down to one man, Bernard Smart and this wine pays homage to this charming man.

Tasting
This wine displays muscular yet elegant silky black fruits couple with deep, rich, warming spices, hints of violet, mineral and black cherry.

Only 2352 Bottles & 42 Magnums Produced.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans

Viticulture & Winemaking
A remarkable site that has vines of 100 years old. The entire site, planted high in the picturesque Clarendon subregion, is dry grown bush vines and has been farmed by the same family for 3 generations. This wine is sourced from one particular block where the canopy is raised slightly higher above the ground, allowing for better air circulation and increased radiated sunlight.

The fruit was hand-picked on 25th March before being transported to the winery where 20% was retained as whole bunches to be placed on the base of a concrete pyramid fermenter. Wild fermented and gently hand plunged twice a day during active fermentation. Pressed off to 300 litre hogsheads, of which 20% were new.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Grenache
Country Australia
Region McLaren Vale
Australian State SA
Reviewed By The Real Review
The Wine Front
Critic Score 96
Alcohol 14.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
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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