Thistledown 'She's Electric' Old Vine Grenache, Seaview, McLaren Vale, South Australia 2023
Thistledown was founded in 2010 by Masters of Wine Giles Cooke and Fergal Tynan, dedicated to showcasing the elegance and transparency of South Australia's finest Grenache sites. Working with prized old-vine vineyards across McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley, the team crafts vibrant, terroir-focused wines that balance purity of fruit with finesse and structure. 'She's Electric' takes its name from a singular Seaview vineyard discovered in late 2016 — one where old bush vines contrasted dramatically against a younger replanting, half of the original block having been destroyed when a bird igniting on a power line set the vineyard ablaze. Only 2,774 bottles were produced.
- WINEMAKER: Giles Cooke MW & Fergal Tynan MW
- FARMING: Dry grown, old bush vines. Low-intervention viticulture with a minimal spray regime, cover crops, and active promotion of biodiversity. Certified Sustainable (Sustainable Winegrowing Australia). Vegan.
- VARIETY: 100% Grenache
- TERROIR: Single vineyard, Seaview, McLaren Vale. Old bush vines grown on red-brown sandy loams with quartz and ironstone. The 2023 vintage was the third consecutive La Niña-influenced season — cooler than average, with wet weather during ripening, yielding one of the latest harvests on record, and wines of exceptional aromatic lift and balance.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-picked early morning and transported immediately to the winery. 50% whole bunches retained; wild fermentation initiated via gentle foot pressing. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
- AGING: 8 months in 500L puncheons and 300L used French oak hogsheads. No new oak.
- TASTING NOTES: Aromatic and lifted on the nose with wild strawberry and spice. The palate is complex and complete with a ductile framework of tannin, exotic spice, raspberry compote, licorice, and black tea — rich and full but with edgy, vibrant energy
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled lamb, roasted duck, Mediterranean vegetables, herb-driven cuisines, charcuterie.
- SCORES: 96 pts. James Halliday Wine Companion 2025, Special Value 95 pts. Wine Advocate (Erin Larkin) 95 pts. James Suckling (Nick Gislham MW) 95 pts. The Real Review 94 pts. The Wine Front (Gary Walsh)
Thistledown 'She's Electric' Old Vine Grenache, Seaview, McLaren Vale, South Australia 2023
Thistledown was founded in 2010 by Masters of Wine Giles Cooke and Fergal Tynan, dedicated to showcasing the elegance and transparency of South Australia's finest Grenache sites. Working with prized old-vine vineyards across McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley, the team crafts vibrant, terroir-focused wines that balance purity of fruit with finesse and structure. 'She's Electric' takes its name from a singular Seaview vineyard discovered in late 2016 — one where old bush vines contrasted dramatically against a younger replanting, half of the original block having been destroyed when a bird igniting on a power line set the vineyard ablaze. Only 2,774 bottles were produced.
- WINEMAKER: Giles Cooke MW & Fergal Tynan MW
- FARMING: Dry grown, old bush vines. Low-intervention viticulture with a minimal spray regime, cover crops, and active promotion of biodiversity. Certified Sustainable (Sustainable Winegrowing Australia). Vegan.
- VARIETY: 100% Grenache
- TERROIR: Single vineyard, Seaview, McLaren Vale. Old bush vines grown on red-brown sandy loams with quartz and ironstone. The 2023 vintage was the third consecutive La Niña-influenced season — cooler than average, with wet weather during ripening, yielding one of the latest harvests on record, and wines of exceptional aromatic lift and balance.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-picked early morning and transported immediately to the winery. 50% whole bunches retained; wild fermentation initiated via gentle foot pressing. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
- AGING: 8 months in 500L puncheons and 300L used French oak hogsheads. No new oak.
- TASTING NOTES: Aromatic and lifted on the nose with wild strawberry and spice. The palate is complex and complete with a ductile framework of tannin, exotic spice, raspberry compote, licorice, and black tea — rich and full but with edgy, vibrant energy
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled lamb, roasted duck, Mediterranean vegetables, herb-driven cuisines, charcuterie.
- SCORES: 96 pts. James Halliday Wine Companion 2025, Special Value 95 pts. Wine Advocate (Erin Larkin) 95 pts. James Suckling (Nick Gislham MW) 95 pts. The Real Review 94 pts. The Wine Front (Gary Walsh)