Thistledown “Sands of Time” Single Vineyard Grenache 2023

97 points Robert Parker
The 2023 Sands of Time Old Vine Single Vineyard Grenache leads with a floral, fragrant bouquet of Boscobel rose, crushed green (and salted) pistachios, licorice, clove, star anise and cracked fennel seeds. The wine is structurally fine and ductile; the tannins present us with an attractive framework of support and texture. It is gently chewy, layered with tobacco, iron and a hint of boudin noir, or black pudding. (I was recently pulled away from my Northern English roots while in France. We had boudin noir, and it was significantly silkier, fattier, softer and more lustrous than the English version; and to my palate at least, it was far more aligned with wine and nuance.) Suffice to say, this is a super wine, fragrant and detailed, long and complex. Yes!

96 points Rene Langdahl Jørgensen
Fra 75 år gamle stokke og strandsand, nærmest. Mere sødme, hindbærpræg og blandet saft med blomme, men der dukker strutfrisk MC-karakter frem med positiv grønhed og sumakkrydring. Sur, saftig, sød og røget på samme tid. Stor krop, større og sjovt nok lidt mørkere end She’s Electric. Rød lakrids og tørrede rosenblade, ja helt ærligt faktisk en smule som DRC-pinot! Distinkt kombi af sødme og jern i eftersmagen. Storslået vin.

96 points James Halliday
"a brilliant, flamboyant grenache"

96 points The Wine Front
"Quite something."

95 points James Suckling
There are very few wines that I look forward to more than the top duo of grenache from Thistledown, be it on Australian or international shores. This, from an octogenarian spread of vines, higher up on meager sands flecked with ironstone, peering toward the vast Pacific horizon. The final vintage of a La Nina troika, splaying red-fruit allusions, dried thyme, rose petal, pomegranate and lilac, with a mandala of gritty nigh-on nebbiolo-esque tannins, directing and driving long. The tannins are just a little emaciated, to be churlish. Later-ripening varieties, such as grenache, had their challenges in this vintage, yet this gorgeous rendition virtually transcends them.