Thistledown The Quickening Shiraz 2021
A deliciously vibrant style of Barossa Shiraz with succulent raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, hints of spice and elegant, glossy texture.
“Very bright shiraz with berry intensity, together with aromas and flavors crushed stones, asphalt and stone. Full and compact, with transparency and freshness. Red volcanic salt at the end. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
93 Points – James Suckling
” I just reviewed 2021 The Quickening Shiraz in September 2022, and while I wouldn’t normally re-review a wine in such a short time, I thought I’d have a look at it and see where the wine now sits. We are now 10 months on from that review, and the wine has really settled into itself. The gloss of youth has subsided, but the legacy of the 2021 vintage has not. While the wine is less “exciting” today, it remains excellent, and the tannins are a big highlight here. You can hang onto this with ease, but drinking now will offer pleasure too. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.”
92 Points – Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin
91 Points – Wine & Spirits
“This producer is better known for its old vine Grenache, but here is a solid, modern Shiraz that speaks of Barossa’s sun-soaked terrain. There’s bushels of ripe blood plum, vanilla bean, licorice and violet aromas, with a baked terra cotta note beneath. There’s succulent fruit and a good lick of tannins on the full figured palate. While it’s lacking some freshness, pair with a rare steak or portobello mushrooms and all shall be well. ”
90 Points – Wine Enthusiast
“The 2021 Shiraz The Quickening offers opulent licorice, blackberry jam and new leather aromas. Heavy-set flavors of chocolate and mulberry follow. Chalky tannis support a meaty finish that is a touch hot.”
89 Points – Vinous
As life-forces stir, a connection is born and a personality created. The Quickening celebrates the vivifying power of nature. This is the Barossa reimagined. An exuberant outpouring of energy, captured within a sculptured framework that reflects the rugged yet beautiful landscape of its conception.
Vintage Conditions:
Rare is the vintage that combines good yields and high quality but 2021 was just that. A remarkable vintage in that it was once again pandemic affected but that it was measured and mild with none of the heat spikes or drought conditions of recent years. With good levels of winter rains filling soil profiles, the mild weather with intermittent rains throughout the growing and ripening season ensured that fruit ripened over a long period of time and the vintage was one of the longest in recent history. The results are spectacular, healthy fruit, moderate sugars and complex
flavours, have resulted in wines of beautiful balance, fragrance and varietal typicity.
Viticulture:
Joel Mattschoss’ Eden Valley vineyard provides the majority of the fruit. This spectacular vineyard is planted on some of the most difficult, meagre soils of any we have seen. Littered with boulders composed of ironstone and pink quartz, it is a truly challenging site. Vineyards are trellised, cordon trained and spur pruned.
Winemaking:
This wine is all about great fruit, picked at the right time. Frequent vineyard walks determines exactly the right time, the fruit full of energy. Wild fermented, using some whole bunch inclusion play their role in ensuring that this wine is full of bright, fleshy fruit with great texture and spice. Aged in French oak for 8 months prior to bottling.
