Ministry of Clouds Onkaparinga Rocks Shiraz 2020

Ministry of Clouds Single Vineyard Shiraz 2020

Planted into a steep southerly facing slope, The Chase Vineyard is characterised by a very thin veneer of grey loam, supported by a deep bedrock of sandstone, slaty siltstone and ancient rocks. Dating back to 650 million years of age this geology is some of the oldest planted to wine grapes anywhere in the world, both limiting yield, and lending a unique character to this wine. Harvested in the cool of night to retain freshness and delicacy, we gently de-stemmed to 80% whole-berries with the balance as whole bunch and then fermented in traditional open vats. We hand plunged daily and tasted regularly to assess colour and extraction before basket pressing to a mixture of old and new French oak puncheons for 12 months maturation.

A lifted but deep expression of McLaren Vale shiraz, tending towards blue and back fruits, Garrigue herbs, picked necessarily early to retain freshness, and layered in shyly supporting French Oak. Powerful on the palate, this wine is an interplay between the waves of intense crunchy plumlike fruit, and the tensile strength of the mineral and tannin laden structure beneath.