
Crushed & Cured
Ministry of Clouds, Grenache, McLaren Vale, Australia, 2023
A Grenache that delivers what Pinot promises... Entwined within a complex deep core of red and purple fruit aromas, violets, earth and herb tinged; the palate is pure with old-vine flesh, calming depth and purity, but kept necessarily fresh by grainy tannins and a bright line of natural acid.
Hand harvested from a pair of vineyards, one 81 and the other 98 years of age situated in the higher climes of Blewitt Springs and Clarendon. Lightly de-stemmed 90% of the fruit to retain whole berries, including the balance as whole bunches. Ferments were started wild (using natural yeasts) in traditional open - fermenters, with hand plunging twice daily to wet the caps, but not so vigorous as to macerate the stalks. After 13 days on skins, we basket
pressed each parcel into a mixture of old oak puncheons and a 1000 litre foudre. Maturation was undertaken on fine lees to build mid-palate texture and for the reductive benefit to avoid Grenache’s predisposition to oxidation. 11 months only in large old oak to allow the blend to come together and bottled young before any meaningful oak influence can be seen.
Region: McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2023
Grape Variety: Grenache
ABV: 14.5%
Size: 750ml
Producer: Ministry of Clouds