Ministry of Clouds McLaren Vale Spice Garden Grenache 2024
Regular price $75.00
Unit price per
Coming from Blewitt Springs from a vineyard planted 1939 (bush vines) in white sand over ironstone. Hand picked with a little whole-bunch in the ferment and kept on skins for 3 weeks with daily hand plunging and aged on gross lees for 7 months in old French oak puncheons before bottling in December 2024.
'The 2024 Spice Garden Single Site Grenache is planted on deep white sand over ironstone. The vineyard is planted north–south, across a bowl shape, with two elevated wings (this is where the fruit for this cuvée is sourced) and a bowl area in the middle. The wine is aromatically red-fruited, with raspberry florals and rose petals, star anise and graphite, layers of dried herbs and green olive tapenade. The whole bunches here—50% of the wine—show in the glass. It remains balanced, but they are a key feature of the palate. This is darker and deeper than the Silk & Stone Single Site Grenache (from Clarendon vineyard) tasted alongside, which is surprising given the reputation of Blewitt Springs Grenache for being "the lighter one," fresh and aromatic. To be clear, this is all of those things, but this is darker than the Silk & Stone. This is an excellent wine, truly. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.' 96 points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, December 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.