Ministry of Clouds Spice Garden Grenache McLaren Vale 2023
Region: South Australia
Sub Region: McLaren Vale
Variety: Grenache
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2023
The Wine
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 2023.
Cellared Says
In my mind there are two soil types that really shine a light on grenache as single varietal wines, Granite such as those from DO Madrid and sandy soils, from where this wine originates. Not just sandy, but blinding white, fine mica sandy soils in the heart of the Blewitt Springs vineyard. Cool red fruit, raspberry, thyme, spice and fine supple tannins hold the long acid line. A great wine that unfurls in the glass. Make sure it’s served at 15 degrees to really get that plush cool fruit hit.
Reviews
The 2023 Spice Garden Single Site Grenache vineyard is right in the heart of Blewitt Springs, bush vines planted in 1939 on squeaky white beach sand. Aromatically, the wine leads with Boscobel rose and raspberry seed, red apple skins, black cherry and star anise. The “minty” aspect of star anise leads into things like shaved fennel and a hint of tarragon. I love that about it. It’s a cool offset to the red fruit. In the mouth, the tannins are silky, chewy and seamless. It provides a perfume in the mouth that helps to redefine the palate once again. It’s sort of circular in that way. This wine makes you think more about it—about its flow and shape, its presence and impact. This is a beautiful wine. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
96 Points - Erin Lark The Wine Advocate
Region: South Australia
Sub Region: McLaren Vale
Variety: Grenache
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2023
The Wine
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 2023.
Cellared Says
In my mind there are two soil types that really shine a light on grenache as single varietal wines, Granite such as those from DO Madrid and sandy soils, from where this wine originates. Not just sandy, but blinding white, fine mica sandy soils in the heart of the Blewitt Springs vineyard. Cool red fruit, raspberry, thyme, spice and fine supple tannins hold the long acid line. A great wine that unfurls in the glass. Make sure it’s served at 15 degrees to really get that plush cool fruit hit.
Reviews
The 2023 Spice Garden Single Site Grenache vineyard is right in the heart of Blewitt Springs, bush vines planted in 1939 on squeaky white beach sand. Aromatically, the wine leads with Boscobel rose and raspberry seed, red apple skins, black cherry and star anise. The “minty” aspect of star anise leads into things like shaved fennel and a hint of tarragon. I love that about it. It’s a cool offset to the red fruit. In the mouth, the tannins are silky, chewy and seamless. It provides a perfume in the mouth that helps to redefine the palate once again. It’s sort of circular in that way. This wine makes you think more about it—about its flow and shape, its presence and impact. This is a beautiful wine. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
96 Points - Erin Lark The Wine Advocate
Region: South Australia
Sub Region: McLaren Vale
Variety: Grenache
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2023
The Wine
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 2023.
Cellared Says
In my mind there are two soil types that really shine a light on grenache as single varietal wines, Granite such as those from DO Madrid and sandy soils, from where this wine originates. Not just sandy, but blinding white, fine mica sandy soils in the heart of the Blewitt Springs vineyard. Cool red fruit, raspberry, thyme, spice and fine supple tannins hold the long acid line. A great wine that unfurls in the glass. Make sure it’s served at 15 degrees to really get that plush cool fruit hit.
Reviews
The 2023 Spice Garden Single Site Grenache vineyard is right in the heart of Blewitt Springs, bush vines planted in 1939 on squeaky white beach sand. Aromatically, the wine leads with Boscobel rose and raspberry seed, red apple skins, black cherry and star anise. The “minty” aspect of star anise leads into things like shaved fennel and a hint of tarragon. I love that about it. It’s a cool offset to the red fruit. In the mouth, the tannins are silky, chewy and seamless. It provides a perfume in the mouth that helps to redefine the palate once again. It’s sort of circular in that way. This wine makes you think more about it—about its flow and shape, its presence and impact. This is a beautiful wine. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
96 Points - Erin Lark The Wine Advocate