Thistledown Sands Of Time Grenache 2024

97 POINTS

Marcus Ellis - Halliday's Wine Companion

From Sue Trott’s Blewitt Springs vineyard, planted in '52 to deep Maslin Sands. The Trott vineyard typically throws a slightly darker fruit profile, and this wine can be a little slower to emerge after bottling, but this year it’s open, perfumed and engaging from the beginning. That’s not to say it’s simpler – far from it. Refined, elegant, suffused with pressed florals and dark spice notes, rosehip tea, dried black cherry, iron, fennel seed and warm stone, the shape and drive reminiscent of nebbiolo, though more Valtellina than Langhe. That comparison is just for communication, as this is strikingly its own thing, another arrow finding the bullseye to show why modern Australian grenache is one of world wine’s most exciting categories. Sublime.

97 POINTS

Marcus Ellis - Halliday's Wine Companion

From Sue Trott’s Blewitt Springs vineyard, planted in '52 to deep Maslin Sands. The Trott vineyard typically throws a slightly darker fruit profile, and this wine can be a little slower to emerge after bottling, but this year it’s open, perfumed and engaging from the beginning. That’s not to say it’s simpler – far from it. Refined, elegant, suffused with pressed florals and dark spice notes, rosehip tea, dried black cherry, iron, fennel seed and warm stone, the shape and drive reminiscent of nebbiolo, though more Valtellina than Langhe. That comparison is just for communication, as this is strikingly its own thing, another arrow finding the bullseye to show why modern Australian grenache is one of world wine’s most exciting categories. Sublime.

97 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Wine Advocate

Looking at this lineup of 2024 Grenaches, it is evident that 2024 was not a high-color year. However, the wines are abundantly aromatic, fresh and imbued with fine pliable structure, so with one we accept the other. So here, the 2024 Sands of Time Old Vine Single Vineyard Grenache penetrates the palate with sapid fruit flavors; the tannins "roll" more than they "shape," and they pervade every dark corner of the fruit. Everything here is in such lithe balance, and it truly is a pleasure to drink. McLaren Vale Grenache, at the height of its powers, can be all things in one glass: supple and fine, powerful and statuesque, silky and structured, long and deep. This is a superstar, make no mistake. The fruit was handpicked from Sue Trott's home vineyard and fermented wild with 30% whole bunches in concrete pyramids. It matured in both concrete and oak. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

95 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

From a 1957 patch in Blewitt Springs. Trott Vineyard. 33% whole bunch. Very aromatic, ripe raspberry, rosehip, exotic spice, slight liquorice, orange peel. Medium to full-bodied, but bright, but good concentration, raspberry, balanced acidity, fine stony tannin, albeit with some firmness, and excellent length, with something of an amaro tang on the finish and some peanut flavour. Super wine. It’s maybe a little warmer and more breathy than the Charming Man, but gee, it has impact and power.