Description
Thistledown was founded by Master of Wine Giles Cooke, driven by a vision to create elegant, textural interpretations of Australian wine. With access to some of the country’s best vineyards—including historic Old Vine Grenache—Giles has quickly established a reputation for producing some of Australia’s most compelling and nuanced wines. His mission is to bring these stories to a global audience, celebrating both the heritage of the vineyards and the personality of the fruit.
Viticulture
The Shiraz is sourced entirely from a single old vineyard in the Riverland, a property with vines dating back to the early soldier settlements, offering exceptional depth and character.
Winemaking
A small proportion of Zibibbo (Muscat) was co-fermented using wild yeasts to enhance aroma and complexity. The wine undergoes a short ageing in old French oak before bottling young, preserving the aromatic intensity, silky texture, and approachable style Giles sought from the outset.
Tasting Note
A distinctive Shiraz with an aromatic profile of peaches, ripe nectarine, wild raspberry, and a hint of spice. The palate is soft and slurpy, with silky texture and subtle tannins that add gentle seasoning, reminiscent of macerated strawberries and black pepper. A previously undervalued resource transformed into a thoroughly enjoyable, elegant wine.
Food Matching
Pairs beautifully with roasted lamb, beef stews, and strong hard cheeses.
Awards
James Halliday 90 Points – “All Riverland fruit, with a heritage property supplying the Shiraz. A dollop of old-vine Zibibbo and a smidgeon of Fiano were co-fermented, serving lift and perfume. This has some throaty warmth to it, yet the extraction regime was clearly whole-berry gentle, so easy is this to drink. Mindless, in the very best way. 90 Points, NG (MW), 2023.”
Technical Details
Varieties: Shiraz 86%, Zibibbo 11%, Fiano 3%
Oak Ageing: 1 Month in French Oak, 100% of wine, none new
Reviews
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