Thistledown The Vagabond Grenache 2023

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Thistledown
Label Name:
 
The Vagabond Grenache
Vintage:
 
2023
Country:
 
Australia
Region:
 
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, South Australia.
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14.5%
Grape(s):
 
Grenache
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
3
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
3
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Major scores for recent Vagabond releases include: Halliday Wine Companion ~95–96 pts; The Wine Front 94–95 pts; Robert Parker/Wine Advocate 92–94 pts; James Suckling ~93 pts; The Real Review ~93 pts. Various regional medals (McLaren Vale Wine Show)

Tasting Note
Perfumed violets, wild cherry and strawberry with rosemary, liquorice and warming spice. Medium-bodied, textured and energetic with fine sandy tannins and a long aromatic finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, charcuterie, jamón, pork sausages, grilled game. Asian: Korean BBQ, Cantonese char siu, Sichuan stir-fry, Thai red curry.

Production Method
Hand-picked fruit; ~68% wild ferment in a concrete pyramid layered with whole bunch and crushed fruit, remainder open-fermented (≈35% whole bunch); aged in concrete egg and French puncheons.

Vineyard Info
Thistledown (Alliance Wine project) led by Giles Cook MW and partners, focusing on old, dry-grown bush vines in McLaren Vale to showcase Grenache terroir.