"An exercise in slender power, bringing early picked McLaren Vale Shiraz characters exhibited by cool blue and red fruit with layers of coal dust and earth to entice, supported by a gentle oak creaminess, which progresses to the palate exhibiting a deep fruit weight kept bright, nervy, and fleshy and filed down nicely by a fine and mineral tannin line.
2022 was a relatively cool vintage which allowed gradual flavour development. We combined four separate picks from our own Onkaparinga Rocks vineyard, and a sandy dry grown Blewitt Springs site. Approximately 17% whole bunches were retained in the total blend, the rest gently destemmed to preserve whole berries for balance. Of the 12 separate ferments all were wild, caps were wet twice daily to assess flavour and colour extraction. Maceration on skins was extended up to 6 weeks for some parcels to build complexity and tannin line. After a gentle basket press, the wine was matured for 6 months in a combination of French oak hogsheads, puncheons, demi muids, foudres, and a concrete egg." - Ministry of Clouds
