2022 Ministry of Clouds Grenache Carignan, McLaren Vale

Always a delicious wine, this. Often the best cuvee of the range, with the carignan (30%) delivering a thirst-slaking kit of gristly tannic mettle, mitigating any sense of floozy fruit. Full-weighted, although as with so much of the range, a little lighter and fresher of feel. A subtle hint of reduction confers tension and floral lift, before dried raspberry, lilac, orange balm and tea tree splay broad and long. Excellent drinking. Drink or hold. 

94 points James Suckling, September 2024

Light, clear colour. Hand picked parcels of dry-grown fruit are open fermented with a small proportion of whole bunches retained; a long time on skins, but very gently treated to provide this amalgam of red berry/cherry/spice flavours floating across the palate. A made-to-measure light-bodied wine for current consumption and serving slightly chilled. Drink to 2026.

94 points (Special Value) James Halliday for Halliday Wine Companion, December 2023