Thistledown Gorgeous Grenache 2021

raspberry preserve, dried red cherry, wild strawberry, star anise, and allspice

We first introduced this wine a couple of years ago as a New World Red club feature, which launched it to become one of the most popular wines we sold in 2020. Since then the dynamic duo that is Thistledown, Masters of Wine Giles Cooke and Fergal Tynan have become the critical darlings of the Australian wine industry for their work rescuing old vineyards of Grenache. Over the past few years I have become a fan of Grenache with Thanksgiving dinner, where the combination of rich fruit and bright acidity work great with the cornucopia of flavors.

The Gorgeous Grenache is sourced from both McLaren Vale and the inland growing region of Riverland, where several vineyards exist dating back to the 1920s. These “Soldier Vines,” as they are commonly known, were given as part of a land grant to returning veterans of World War I. This diversity of climates and altitudes gives complexity to the finished wine, with acidity and balance from McLaren Vale and ripeness and tannin from Riverland. In addition, numerous traditional techniques are utilized in the winery, such as whole-cluster fermentation in concrete vessels and exclusive use of wild yeasts. All of these factors combine to deliver a less overtly extracted, more elegant example of this noble grape.

When you open this wine, you will want to decant for at least half an hour. Once this wine has some time to open up, it is highly expressive on the palate with notes of raspberry preserve, dried red cherry, wild strawberry, star anise, and allspice. Drink now through 2026 with lamb burgers, smoked turkey or baby back ribs.