Thistledown Sands of Time Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache 2025

Very bright, deep and glowing purple in the glass. Aromas of fivespice, dark morello cherry and earthy broken rock, some star anise peeping through. The wine is full bodied and firm, with an emphatic beginning and finish, the latter loaded with drying, mouth-coating tannins that add great authority to the wine and promise long ageing. There's a fabulous core of juicy liqueur cherry and spice, again that insistent note of star anise, the tannins enveloping it all with a warming hug. Very smart grenache indeed.  Drink 2026-2040. 97 points Huon Hooke, The Real Review

From the 1952-planted Trott vineyard, which was sold in '26, although the source will likely be a constant for Thistledown. Like the Smart vineyard bottling, this has a distinct imprint of site, and with a super-gentle touch, where ferments (30% whole bunch layered in concrete) are not worked, just managed; the transparency of making is a magnifying glass on place. Darker red fruits, as usual, more earthy, with some black spice notes and bergamot tea. Red and black cherry, rosehip, quite floral, if subdued, reds and blues. This seems more refined each year, even in what was a warm and dry year. It’s a fine trajectory, and another superb release. Drink 2026-2038. 97 points Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion