Ministry of Clouds McLaren Vale Silk & Stone Grenache 2024
Regular price $75.00
Unit price per
Coming from vines planted 1922 (bush vines) in dark loam over ironstone and clay in Clarendon on a steep south facing site. Both single vineyard Grenaches were hand-picked, destemmed with between 56 and 63% whole bunch retained and fermented wild in open
vats. They were hand plunged daily, on skins for up to 6 weeks for Spice Garden, and 4 weeks for Silk & Stone. Maturation followed, on gross lees in old French oak puncheons for 7 months before bottling.
'The 2024 Silk & Stone Single Site Grenache is floral and aromatic, fine in palate weight and yet persistent both in shape and length. This is a beautiful wine, as it was last year, perhaps with a little more concentration (although no darker in color, from memory). The fruit is from both the 1922 and 1955 plantings, picked and fermented separately, five days apart. The "newer" plantings are more upright, while the 1922 planting sprawls a little more along the ground. The late Bernard Smart tended this their generation vineyard right up until the time of his death, and he was widely loved and admired for his unbending work ethic—typified by his desire to prune the vines throughout his life. This is a highly sought-after vineyard, and the fruit quality speaks for itself. Only 1,281 bottles made. The fruit spent three to four weeks on the skins post ferment, with 63% whole bunches, the matured for seven months in old French oak puncheons. This is a super wine. It was bottled filtered yet unfined. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.' 97 points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, December 2025.
'Smart Vineyard. Raspberry, cherry, spice box, almond, roses, a stony thing, roast red capsicum and paprika. Medium-bodied, fine dusty and powdery texture, crushed rocks, cool acidity, succulence of red fruits, but also tight and stony. Superb finish. Such texture, but with flavour. Precise. This is a banger.' 96 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, November 2025.
After almost three decades shared experience in the wine industry, Bernice Ong and Julian Forwood decided to have a crack at their own (ad)venture. For them, Ministry of Clouds represents the relinquishing of past security and structure for the beguiling freedom and independence inherent in this, their own voice.
They seek fruit from distinguished vineyard sites mostly in McLaren Vale, but also in the Clare Valley for a crystalline expression of Riesling and across the Bass Strait for a flinty and somewhat wild expression of a Tasmanian Chardonnay. Their reds revel in Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro and Tempranillo fruit from a variety of mature vineyard sites through McLaren Vale, some up to 90 years of age.
Ministry of Clouds produce classic wines that show careful attention to detail, wines that speak of the land, that reveal the essence of the season; wines with perfect ripeness yet showing some tension, restraint and poise complete with crunchy texture, delicate balance and a somewhat modest built. They are wines that beg to be shared on a convivial table consumed with various foods, flavours and textures.