2023 Thistledown She's Electric Grenache, McLaren Vale

From dry-grown old bush vines planted to red-brown sandy loams with quartz and ironstone in Seaview. Wild fermented with 50% whole bunches; eight months in French oak. This is such an aromatically distinctive wine, with all the Thistledown grenache bottlings so keenly differentiated – I would not tire if there were more! Open and perfumed at this early stage, with wild cherry, a garigue-like scrubby note, tart redcurrant, rhubarb and warm brown spices and a depth that belies the immediate fragrance, transparency and pale hue. The balance here is the quiet star, with ripples of texture radiating over the sandy coil of tannin, effortless but with latent power. Stunning.

96 points Special Value Marcus Ellis winecompanion.com.au

Lovely vibrancy of colour in the glass. The aromas are alluring and complex. There's plenty of dried flowers, herbs, red and blue fruits and a sarsaparilla lift. The flavours are vivid and multi-faceted, all red fruits, spice and a creamy, textured mouth-feel. The tannins have a suppleness, yet real presence and the acidity delivers snap and crackle. Delicious gear 09 MAR 2024 Drink 2024–2034

95 points AB therealreview.com

At the Seaview end of Chapel Hill Rd, a plot of old bush vines is contrasted by a planting of much younger Grenache. Apparently, half of the vineyard was burned when a bird caught light on a power line, fell to the ground and set light to the vineyard. Hence, She's Electric. Dry grown, old bush vines, grown on red-brown sandy loams with quartz and ironstone. Low intervention viticulture with minimal spray regime, cover crops and promotion of biodiversity. The fruit was hand-picked, we retained 50% whole bunches. A gentle foot pressing helped establish the wild ferment. Once fermented, the wine was transferred to 300 litre used French oak hogsheads where it stayed for 6 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.