Thistledown She's Electric Grenache 2024

The cuvée name and label art acknowledge the event that saw a bird electrified in power lines and torch half the vineyard – this comes from the remnant old vines. A pale, pinot-like hue, this is stunningly aromatic, red fruited, blooming with rose notes, though it’s also savoury and spicy. There’s fennel seed, a twigginiess of bunch, white pepper and cassia bark, a mulchy, dry-toned forest floor character, warm earth, a little salinity. Poised and elegant of feel, with almost a pinosity, echoing the colour. A little time in bottle is needed to cohere fruit and bunch notes, but the promise of intriguing tertiary fragrance is an exciting prospect. (95) MARCUS ELLIS, Halliday Wine Companion

Vibrant ruby red hue. Nose is equally vibrant, raspberry, dried herbs and roses all leaping from the glass. This is benchmark delicious drinking, juicy raspberry fruit is lifted by crunchy acidity and for a moment you think that’s all then it morphs into a far more savoury tone with dried herbs and morcilla notes. Great length; tannins have a subtle influence towards the finish, more lifting than gripping so the end still has the same vitality as on entry. (95) STUART KNOX,  The Real Review