Thistledown Thorny Devil Grenache 2024

93 POINTS

Marcus Ellis - Halliday Wine Companion

From a panoply of Vale sites, all old vines, all dry grown, with some whole bunch in all ferments; yeasts are native and extraction gentle. In general, a warmer year than the preceding few, though not excessively so. This has that bit more flesh and plump than its predecessor, a heartiness to the fruit, though still transparent, still buoyant. Grenache’s red fruit arsenal is on display in raspberry, cherry, redcurrant, pomegranate et al, along with billowing rose-scented florals, though on the more generous end of that palette. There are also some scrubby herbs, a little white pepper spice, a scuff of earth, and a delivery that is relatively gentle of structure.

90 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

From a selection of vineyards in McLaren Vale. It’s quite a ripe wine, moving into slightly stewed fruit character, poached strawberry and the like, some toffee, peanut and spice. Plenty of flavour, baked red fruits, dried herb, brown spice, with soft tannin and a slightly warm finish, a subtle orange peel bitterness to close. It’s a nice enough wine, though somewhat lacking in energy and focus.

Angus Hughson - Vinous

The 2024 Grenache Thorny Devil is a fun example of the Grenache genre with bright floral and spicy cherry cola aromas that are still wound up a little tight. Juicy flavors continue that theme and then wind down into a supple finish.