2025 Thistledown This Charming Man Grenache, Clarendon McLaren Vale

From the elevated slopes of Clarendon, where McLaren Vale meets the Adelaide Hills, this is Grenache with serious pedigree and a track record that keeps turning heads. Thistledown, led by Giles Cooke MW, has built a cult following around old vine Grenache, and This Charming Man sits right at the top, regularly collecting major accolades including Wine of the Year and Grenache of the Year honours.

Clarendon brings a cooler edge to McLaren Vale, with altitude and exposure delivering longer ripening and finer detail. Old bush vines, rooted deep in ancient soils, produce low yields of intensely flavoured fruit, but the magic here is how that power is shaped into something refined and beautifully balanced.

Bright crimson with a gentle translucency, the aromatics are immediately captivating. Wild raspberry, red cherry and strawberry lead, layered with rose petal, exotic spice and a subtle herbal lift. There is a purity and perfume that feels almost effortless.

The palate is silky and finely structured, red fruits gliding across a framework of ultra fine tannins. There is intensity, but it never feels heavy, instead carried by a natural freshness that gives the wine energy and length. Spice and a gentle savoury note build through the mid palate, with a long, graceful finish that lingers.

This is a perfect match for dishes that echo its finesse. Roast duck, grilled quail, or lamb with Middle Eastern spices all work beautifully. It also shines with dishes built around eggplant, herbs and pomegranate, where the wine’s balance of fruit and savoury detail comes alive.

While already incredibly expressive, it will age gracefully over ten to fifteen years, gaining further complexity while retaining its elegance.

There is a real sense of modern Australian Grenache at its peak here, expressive, refined and deeply connected to site, a wine that lives up to its name and reputation.