Ministry of Clouds is owned and managed by "two control freaks" (their own words :-)), hence the name, as in Ministry (for control) and Clouds (for the illusion of control).
Bernice Ong and Julian Forwood is the charming owners of this Australian estate whose first vintage was in 2013. Info here - Ministry of Clouds.
Thanks Quaffable Wines for the invite!
2024 Riesling
A young, racy nose with notes of white currants, steel, sweet lime and chrushed rocks.
The taste is tight and elegant with young, perky yellow fruit, a fine acidity and a pure, bitter finish. Will age gracefully. Released on the 3rd of October.
90p (tasted 2025/10)
2021 Riesling
A flinty nose with notes of grey pears, birch leaves and grass. Very, very good.
The taste is steely and crisp with a very fine acidity, notes of ripening pears and gravel. Compared to the other vintages, a tad more facile.
88p (tasted 2025/10)
2017 Riesling
My favourite. The nose is low keyed but very handsome with notes of lemon peel, smoke and pears. A fine dried up sweetness note.
The taste is cool and seedy with notes of sweet lime, quinine and hay. Very long and distinct.
92p (tasted 2025/10)
2014 Riesling
A hint of maturity with notes of yellow apples, lemon peel and sun warm rocks. Very, very good.
The taste is dry and fine with notes of autumn leaves, yellow apples and dried lemons. Long and fine.
90p (tasted 2025/10)
2021 Grenache Carignan
68% Grenache and 32% Carignan. The nose is open and red fruity with notes of rhubarb, licorice, wild raspberries and fresh herbs. Cool and fine.
The taste is silky, light and highly drinkable with notes of lavender, dried raspberries and tomatoe sauce. A very fine acidity.
90p (tasted 2025/10)
2021 Grenache
A deep, spicy nose with notes of ripe raspberries, sun warm tiles and church incense. Lovely.
The taste is young and elegant with a very fine mouthfeel and notes of raspberries, licorice and fried herbs. High and pure.
92p (tasted 2025/10)
2021 Tempranillo Grenache
A fine, fruity nose with notes of warm gravel, a fine mix of red and black fruit and forest floor. Very, very good.
The taste is medium bodied and upfront with the same mix of red and black as on the nose. As with all their wines, highly drinkable but for me a tad anonymous.
89p (tasted 2025/10)
2021 Shiraz
For 25 Euro this is, as a well known American wine critic used to put it, a no brainer! The nose is cool and layered with notes of burnt rubber in a distance, bluberries and a hint of black pepper. Gorgeous.
The taste is finely structured with polished tannins, beautiful black fruit and a long, silky finish. Drinkable today but probably even better in 5+ years. Load up the truck!
94p (tasted 2025/10)
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