Thistledown Wine Company
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THE CUNNING PLAN SHIRAZ

The Cunning Plan Shiraz

McLaren Vale
BEST SHIRAZ & BEST YOUNG SHIRAZ (2022)

The beautiful region of McLaren Vale is bounded by the Gulf to the West and the various ranges to the East and North. Geologically one of the most diverse regions on earth, it has long been the home to some of Australia’s finest expressions of Shiraz. Our fruit comes from the Moray Park vineyard in the McLaren Flat sub-region. Low yielding and ultra-intense, we handle the fruit gently to capture the delicious berry fruit character, overlaid with subtle wood-spice.
Cunning Plan Shiraz, McLaren
$32 | VIEW IN STORE
Tasting 
Great depth of ripe plum and blackberry fruit flavours. A full bodied wine with a succulent palate, lively spices and fine velvety tannins.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. 
Points & Awards

GOLD - 95 points - McLaren Vale Wine Show


'It’s cracking value for the money and eloquently expresses McLaren Vale, most importantly.' 

92 points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

  • BEST SHIRAZ McLaren Vale Wine Show
  • BEST YOUNG SHIRAZ McLaren Vale Wine Show
  • 93 points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
  • 92 points - JamesSuckling.com
  • 91 points - The Real Review

  • 93 points - Halliday Wine Companion
  • 93 points - JamesSuckling.com
  • 92 points  - The Wine Front
  • 92 points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
  • 91 points - Wine Enthusiast
  • 90 points - The Real Review

93 points (4 stars) - GT Wine

92 points - The Wine Front

92 points - JamesSuckling.com

91 points - Vinous

90 points - The Real Review

17/20 points - JancisRobinson.com


  • TOP 100 Wines (96pts) - James Halliday
  • 93 points - JamesSuckling.com
  • 92 points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
  • BRONZE MEDAL Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2020
  • SILVER McLaren Vale Wine Show 2020
  • 90 points - Wine Spectator

  • 92 points - James Suckling
  • 91 points - Gary Walsh
  • 90 points - The Wine Advocate

  • 94 points - James Halliday
  • 90 points - Huon Hooke

  • Silver Medal - International Wine Challenge, 2015
  • 90 points - Wine & Spirits Magazine, USA

Viticulture

Our fruit comes from the Moray Park vineyard in the McLaren Flat sub-region. Picked on the way up to retain vibrancy and energy.

Winemaking

Winemaking is simple with The Cunning Plan. Take perfectly balanced fruit, pick, gently crush to preserve whole berries and allow to soak for 4 days prior to a wild fermentation. Wild fermented and then pressed to French oak only, with 10% new.
All Vintages 
Click below to download tasting notes in PDF format.
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2016
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