Thistledown The Fool On The Hill Grenache 2024

97 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2024 Fool on the Hill Grenache is from Eden Valley, and the wine is abundantly aromatic and eloquent of its place. The tiered vineyard site is up near Pewsey Vale and overlooks the Barossa from its vantage point of 500 meters above sea level. The wine is aromatically soft, textural and plump in the mouth, with rose petals and blood orange, red apples and redcurrants. With a hint of pomegranate molasses, the quartz comes through, and there's an integrated base of savory flavor that balances the exuberance of it. It's a highly attractive, gorgeous wine that speaks of the Eden in its splay of rocky tannin. It is chewy and powdery and fills the mouth with floral perfume. It fermented in concrete, which was a "layer cake of whole bunch and whole berry," says founder and winemaker Giles Cooke MW. The ferment received no pumping over, i.e., a very gentle extraction. Post ferment, it matured for 10 months in three- to five-year-old French puncheons. When I think of the three Grenache wines, I, perhaps controversially, given the others are from McLaren Vale, admire the tannin structure of this one the most. They all are magnificent wines.

94 POINTS

Ken Gargett - Winepilot

A winery the reputation of which seems to grow every vintage. The fruit here was sourced from a single vineyard which was planted back in 1952, bush vines on pure sand. 2,729 bottles were made. The colour is a crimson/garnet whilst the nose reveals notes of liqueur cherries, raspberries, dry herbs, florals and a hint of tobacco leaf. There is focus, good energy and very good length, with fine balance throughout, leading to silky tannins. A very enjoyable Grenache that will provide pleasure for at least the next eight years.

93 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

From the Trial Hill vineyard in the Eden Valley. Cherry, blackcurrant, sage, spice, white pepper and dusty things It’s juicy and full of blackberry pastille, tannin is good, with something of a stony character, fine ‘minerally’ acidity, raspberry frog with spicy finish. It’s maybe a little too sweet and minty, though it’s a distinctive wine of high quality. Very Eden.

90 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Vinous

The 2024 Grenache Fool on the Hill is reserved and gentle but not without charm as it offers up raspberry pastille and ham bone aromas with a delicate lining of woody herbs and spices. This is supple and silky, with red berry flavors that are a little pinched before tightening up on the finish.