Thistledown The Vagabond Grenache 2023
Although we might be somewhat deluded in our belief that the world is just about to wake up to the delights of Grenache, our extensive travels throughout The Rhône and in Spain convinced us that with low yields and meticulous fruit sourcing, Grenache makes world class wine.
We’re convinced that, of all of the regions of Australia, the greatest potential for greatness is in the McLaren Vale.We therefore set about finding unique plots throughout the region, looking for specific soil formations that would imbue the Vagabond with finesse, varietal purity and texture.
Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
“Beautifully fragrant, mid-weighted grenache. Red-fruit allusions, pomegranate, menthol, dried rose petal and orange zest. 2023 was another cooler attenuated vintage, the last and perhaps the most challenging of a La Nina troika. Elegance writ large here, somehow synergistic with a Mediterranean-accented cru Beaujolais, such is the imminence, freshness, gritty tannin and shimmering transparency. Drink or hold. ”
95 Points – James Suckling
“The sandy soils of the Blewitt Springs subregion has become famed for top Grenache, as this bottling deftly demonstrates. A perfume that’s hard to resist, Vagabond dishes all the exuberant blueberry and strawberry fruit this variety is known for, with lovely floral and white pepper spice notes threaded through. It’s mid-weight but with quiet power sneaking in via firm, textured tannins. Those silky, succulent berry fruit flavors linger long on the finish. Drink now—2032.”
95 Points – Wine Enthusiast
95 Points – The Wine Front
95 Points – Halliday Wine Companion
95 Points – Wine Spectator
“The 2023 The Vagabond Old Vine Grenache is succulent and silky and leads with a bouquet as polished and supple as the palate—raspberry pip, cranberry, red cherry, licorice, star anise and layers of Earl Grey tea and violets. It has beautiful clarity and poise, but this is what we have come to expect from this producer. Classy wine.”
94 Points – The Wine Advocate
MERIT WINE – 94 Points – The Real Review
“The 2023 Grenache The Vagabond has a more demure expression. It's understated yet finely tuned and highly engaging, with pomegranate and cherry pie aromas and a touch of dried flowers just below the surface. There is an attractive volume of flavor with dark cherry and pink peppercorn tones while retaining an elegant overall feel over a lengthy finale.”
91 Points – Vinous
From 4 separate, old, dry grown, bush trained vineyards in the revered Blewitt Springs district of McLaren Vale, planted in deep sands with some ironstone. The fruit was all hand-picked and about 2/3 was then wild fermented in a concrete pyramid which had layers of whole bunches and alternating layers of crushed fruit. This ferment had no mechanical extraction. The balance was wild fermented in an open fermenter with 35% whole bunches, and was hand plunged twice daily. This portion was aged in puncheons while the pyramid fermented was pressed back to a concrete egg and oak puncheons for maturation. The resulting layers of complexity and depth of flavor are exactly what was aimed for. Racked from there into blending tank and then straight to bottle, unfined and unfiltered. A mere 3833 bottles were produced.
