Thistledown Sands of Time Old Vine Grenache 2021

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Thistledown
Label Name:
 
Sands of Time Old Vine Grenache
Vintage:
 
2021
Country:
 
Australia
Region:
 
McLaren Vale (Blewitt Springs)
Volume:
 
1500ml
ABV:
 
14.5%
Grape(s):
 
Grenache (100%)
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
3
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 97+ (2021); Wine Enthusiast 96–97 (Editors' Choice); Vinous 96; James Halliday 95–97 (Top 100 listings); The Wine Front 95–96; Gold Medal, McLaren Vale Wine Show

Tasting Note
Perfumed red fruits—wild cherry, raspberry and rosehip—lifted by white pepper, sandalwood, liquorice and savory/ferrous notes. Fine sandy tannins, bright acidity and a long, saline-tinged finish with floral perfume.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, duck breast, pork shoulder, charcuterie, mushroom risotto. Asian: Korean BBQ (bulgogi), char siu, Sichuan-style spicy dishes, teriyaki chicken, shiitake and miso dishes.

Production Method
Hand-harvested from dry‑grown bush vines; natural/wild fermentation in concrete with alternating whole-bunch and de-stemmed lots (~30% whole-bunch); gentle slow maceration; matured in concrete and oak; bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Vineyard Info
Thistledown (led by Giles Cooke MW and Fergal Tynan) focuses on small‑batch, single‑vineyard Grenache from old bush vines (1950s) in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, emphasizing terroir and minimal intervention.