Geoff Merrill Parham Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep red coloured wine with purple hints. It was aged in brand new American oak hogsheads for 27 months. Its complex and powerful bouquet exudes aromas of roast beetroot, dark chocolate, black olive, blueberry, licorice and mint. The focussed yet balanced oak creates depth as it opens up in the glass. The palate is fleshy, full of tannins, structured with tight acidity, and displays flavours of dark blue fruits, black cherry and olive. Enjoy it with runny double brie, white castello, or pork belly.

This McLaren Vale Grenache is bursting with ripe cherry and and raspberry fruit flavours, with a lush and concentrated palate and silky textured finish and supple tannins. This big red will pair perfectly with roasted meats and vegetables.

Black cherry, sweet spice and dark fruit aromas combine with blackberry and raspberry flavours to give a crisp and approchable wine.

THISTLEDOWN WINES Sands Of Time Old Vine Single Vineyard Grenache, McLaren Vale

The Old Vine Syrah patch was planted in the 1930s and is on a slope of the property with a westerly aspect. These old gnarly vines are planted in heavily decomposed ironstone and quartz. The style of wine is completely individual and the winemaking team always comment on how light the style is and how exotic the spices are in this vineyard. The spices come across like incense mixed with deeply aromatic and smoky lapsang oolong tea. Exotic characters such as sandalwood, cocoa powder, sarsaparilla and cola elements top the roast meat and flinty, strawberry and cream palette of this wine. The lighter frame on this style is highly attractive and the intoxicating spices combine to create something highly exotic.

DANDELION VINEYARDS Firehawk Of Mclaren Vale Shiraz, McLaren Vale

Ernest Allan Rivers was a market gardener and vigneron, he was also the grandfather of Melissa Brown, Gemtree proprietor and biodynamic viticulturist. Ernest Allan Shiraz is a wine that celebrates and validates the relationship between the earth and the vine.

Name With our love for the ocean and the stunning coastline on the cusp of McLaren Vale being a massive draw card to calling this fantastic little town home it made sense to link the name of our Reserve Shiraz to it. The Squid Ink name originated from the enticing first impression of the black, dye like depth of colour this wine resonates. Vineyard Our Squid Ink vineyard is the epitome of what defines one of the greatest vineyards in Australia where the famous Black Bay of Biscay Clay soil ensures fantastic fruit. Referred to by some local friends as ‘Mayfair’ the use of sustainable viticulture and having true respect for the value of our vineyards and the fruit they create. Winery In the winery the Squid Ink Shiraz fruit is treated with utmost respect, ensuring quality from start to finish. Fermented slowly for gentle extraction of colour, flavour and tannin, the wine is monitored closely. Following fermentation, the wine is then matured in the finest of predominantly new American oak with the 2021 seeing 60% new oak Hogheads for 18 months. Maturation 18 Months in American Oak, 60% new oak Colour Deep intense dark, almost black with a purple hue. Nose There’s a depth of concentration here only seen in some year and here I think it’s reminiscent of the 2010 or 2015 vintage. The complexity seeks several sniffs to grasp. Undeniably intriguing the earthy, savoury character lingers awaiting full expression from a little more time all while tightly embraced with layers of fruit. Palate Like the nose this wine pulls you in for more. The palate is timeless, with a firm but grounded texture the all-encompassing finish drives the wine across the mouth, leaving a full, expressive and delicious lasting experience. This wine is what we believe to be a true representative of Shiraz from our region. As an Estate owned, sustainably grown, single vineyard Shiraz, we have the ability to deliver a world-class wine consistently that is truly at the top of its game. This wine, like our lives, is wonderful in youth, but with patience and development of the wines fruit, along with the integration of the finest of oak this wine will also develop wonderfully. Potential 15+ years.

Z-Force is named in tribute to the Z Special Force, which was a special Australian Army unit created in World War Two to operate behind enemy lines. Z-Force’s members were from many countries and specialised in unique guerrilla warfare. Although disbanded after the war, Z-Force pioneered numerous operational techniques and tactics, many as daring as they were brilliant, that remain a model to this day. The surviving members of Z Special Unit last marched together on Anzac Day in Sydney 2010. The extraordinary bravery of their unit and its lost brothers are honoured in this wine, which is Zonte’s Footstep finest. Each bottle of this wine sold helps support the work of Legacy South Australia.

THISTLEDOWN WINES Walking With Kings, McLaren Vale A Rhône inspired white which takes the richly textured Roussanne and blends with the crisp, green apple and citrus of Grenache Blanc to create a wine of real balance and complexity. Hand-picked Roussanne from Sellicks Hills, biodynamic Grenache Blanc from Kangarilla. Both varieties are hand picked and fermented separately. Roussanne is whole bunch pressed, lightly settled and wild fermented in French oak. Grenache is oxidatively handled prior to wild ferment in barrel. The two components blend prior to bottling.