2025 Thistledown 'Sands of Time' Grenache 750ml

Awards, Ratings & Reviews

97/100 — Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion · 2025 Vintage · Published: 16 March 2026
“From the 1952-planted Trott vineyard, which was sold in '26, although the source will likely be a constant for Thistledown. Like the Smarty vineyard bottling, this has a distinct imprint of site, and with a super-gentle touch, where ferments (30% whole bunch layered in concrete) are not worked, just managed; the transparency of making is a magnifying glass on place. Darker red fruits, as usual, more earthy, with some black spice notes and bergamot tea. Red and black cherry, rosehip, quite floral, if subdued, reds and blues. This seems more refined each year, even in what was a warm and dry year. It’s a fine trajectory, and another superb release.”

2024 Vintage Highlights

BEST WINE OF SHOW — McLaren Vale Wine Show

BEST GRENACHE — McLaren Vale Wine Show

BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WINE — McLaren Vale Wine Show

BEST ONE YEAR OLD GRENACHE — McLaren Vale Wine Show

RED WINE OF THE YEAR — The Real Review 

97+/100 — Wine Advocate

97/100 — Halliday Wine Companion · Special Value

97/100 — South Australian Wine Guide (The Vintage Journal) · BEST OF THE BEST

About This Wine

Sands of Time is produced from Sue Trott's Home Block in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale. The elevated site, planted with dry-grown bush-trained Grenache vines on deep, free-draining sandy soils, has supplied this wine for more than 14 years.

Knowledge gained from working with the vineyard has enabled continual refinement of harvest timing and winemaking. Since the 2017 vintage, the vineyard has been bottled separately to showcase its distinctive site expression.

The vineyard was planted in 1952 and consistently produces Grenache of remarkable purity, intensity and elegance.

The fruit is hand-picked and naturally vinified in concrete. Whole bunches are layered alternately with de-stemmed fruit to create a "layer cake" ferment. A slow, gentle fermentation is followed by maturation in oak and concrete before the final blend is bottled unfined and unfiltered after 10 months.

From the 2024 vintage onwards, Sands of Time carries the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Trust Mark.

Producer Notes

A faithful expression of the site – beautiful, haunting aromatics, fine sandy tannins and wonderful, memorable length on the palate.

Only 3,000 bottles and 54 magnums were produced.

Suitable for vegetarians & vegans.

Specifications

• Vintage: 2025
• Grape Variety: Grenache
• Region: Blewitt Springs / McLaren Vale / South Australia / Australia
• Fermentation: Naturally fermented in concrete using alternating layers of whole bunches and de-stemmed fruit
• Maturation: Matured in oak and concrete before bottling after 10 months
• Production Attributes: Single Vineyard; Dry-grown; Bush-trained Vines; Unfined; Unfiltered; Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Trust Mark
• Vineyard / Geo Info: Sue Trott's Home Block, planted in 1952 on deep sandy soils