Thistledown Walking with Kings Roussanne Grenache Blanc 2022
95 POINTS: Halliday Wine Companion
95 POINTS: JamesSuckling.com
94 POINTS: The Wine Front
93 POINTS: Robert Parkers Wine Advocate
93 POINTS: Decanter (Wines for the Weekend)
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. Walking with Kings is a wine that we have always wanted to make, one that is true to our original goals and is not driven by commercial compromise.
"Lemon zest, honey and almond, green apple and pear, with a little perfume of aniseed and dried herb. It’s waxy and rich, yet fresh and bright with tart white fleshed fruit, a chalky and gently bitter phenolic pucker, a distinctly saline/oyster shell character, with honey gloss and a pithy finish of excellent length. You have to dig these white Rhône styles, maybe, though I like this a lot."
- The Wine Front
"The 2022 Walking With Kings Roussanne Grenache Blanc was sourced from McLaren Vale. Both varieties were handpicked and barrel fermented utilizing wild yeasts. The nose is soft and round with honeydew melon, spiced pear and orchard fruits. In the mouth, the wine is both complex and pert; the texture is complex and softened, thanks to the élevage in oak, while the acidity is tense and bright—a handy juxtaposition in a summer wine. Very smart."
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
ABV: 13.5%