Thistledown Sands of Time Old Vine Grenache 2017

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Thistledown
Label Name:
 
Sands of Time Old Vine Grenache
Vintage:
 
2017
Country:
 
Australia
Region:
 
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14.5%
Grape(s):
 
Grenache
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
3
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Top 100 Australian Wines 2019 (Matthew Jukes); 94 pts Vinous; highly rated in Australian press and wine critics (Gold/Silver medals at McLaren Vale shows for related vintages)

Tasting Note
Perfumed red fruits (raspberry, wild strawberry), violets, dried orange peel and warm spice, with sandalwood and subtle savoury/iron notes. Silky, fine sandy tannins, bright acidity and a saline, persistent finish.

Food Pairing
Roast lamb, grilled pork, charcuterie, tomato‑based pasta, aged Manchego/Pecorino; Peking duck, char siu, Korean BBQ, Cantonese roasted meats, milder Sichuan dishes and mushroom stir‑fries.

Production Method
Hand‑picked; wild fermentation in concrete (concrete pyramid/egg) with whole‑bunch layering (~30–33% whole bunch); gentle slow fermentation; matured ~10 months in concrete and French oak; bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Vineyard Info
Single‑vineyard wine from Sue Trott’s 'Home Block' bush vines (planted c.1952) on deep sandy soils in Blewitt Springs. Produced by Thistledown (Giles Cooke) focusing on old‑vine Grenache.