Ministry of Clouds Friday Tasting + NZ Pinot Saturday Tasting

Ministry of Clouds Friday Tasting + NZ Pinot Saturday Tasting

Published by The Wine Emporium on 23rd Mar 2023

There'll be a river of great wine on pour this weekend, flowing from McLaren Vale on Friday (24th) with the fan-adored wines from Ministry of Clouds, acting as a delicious end to the work week from 4 to 6pm!


Thenthe current will take us over toNew Zealand on Saturday, for our extensive Pinot Noir lineup covering all the major regions, from Marlborough and Martinborough, to Central Otago and Waitaki! This will be from our usual 12 to 2pm, so drop by and try some absolute beauties from some of the country's best, including Valli, Burn Cottage and Dry River!

All wines below will be at the tastings, and on special for this week only!  


Specials - On Tasting Friday 24th March 

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2022 Rosé - $26 on special ; $30 RRP 

"On the drier end of the spectrum, a super delicate and aromatic expression of strawberries, pink lady apples, guava and pomegranate. The palate is long, dry and intense, with tangy raspberry fruit, a lick of amaro bitters, and a little tannin to provide the whip-tale of necessary refreshment..." - Winemaker Notes 

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2022 Tempranillo Grenache - $27 on special ; $30 RRP 

"This wine combines lifted notes of pomegranate, sarsaparilla, violets and nutmeg typical of McLaren Vale Tempranillo, with the red berried perfume and succulence of old vine Grenache. This medium bodied wine is pretty, but deeply flavoured, and deliberately moreish. A lithe and juicy wine, it errs on the blood orange, cherry, red berry spectrum on the palate supported by a long line of ferrous tannin." - Winemaker Notes

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2022 Shiraz - $28 on special ; $32 RRP 

"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." - Winemaker Notes

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2022 Riesling - $32 on special ; $35 RRP 

"From the second consecutive La Nina we enjoyed another cool growing season, with flavour developing slowly over time making for a welcome change from recent vintages, producing a distinctly delicate but intense character. Low Baumes, coupled with healthy natural acids led to lifted and fine floral notes, lavender and lime leaf, grapefruit pith, bath salts, and underlying talc. Classic Clare citrus notes are complimented by the mouth-watering chalky and mineral texture on the palate, finishing with a fine and taut acid line." - Winemaker Notes 

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2022 Grenache - $34 on special ; $39 RRP 

"Showing old vine intensity without heaviness, fragrant cranberry and wild cherry fruit lift, violets, earth, and garrigue herbs: the palate is pure with calming depth and intensity, but kept necessarily fresh by grainy tannins and a bright line of natural acid." - Winemaker Notes 

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2022 Chardonnay - $43 on special ; $49 RRP 

"A pure and tightly wound wine showing the muscle and intensity of the low yielding East Coast site, and the fragile acid line synonymous with fine Tasmanian Chardonnay. A shy and somewhat restrained nose exuding white flowers, peach, nectarine characters, and subtle hints of nougat and wood spice. On the palate, a bedrock of chalky minerality supports a core of intense stone fruit, framing its lingering acidity." - Winemaker Notes 

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2018 Onkaparinga Shiraz - $58 on special ; $67 RRP

"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 is wine is an interplay between the waves of intense crunchy plumlike fruit, and the tensile strength of the mineral and tannin laden structure beneath." - Winemaker Notes 

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New Zealand Pinot Noir Specials - On Tasting Saturday 25th March

2020 Luna Estate Pinot Noir$26 on special ; $29 RRP 

"Vibrant, deep crimson colour. A very energetic looking wine. Darker Pinot shades here; black cherry, black doris plum and sarsaparilla/cola notes on the first sniff, then meat, spice and earth with some woodsy/tarry smells. Plenty of floral prettiness as well with a waft of violet and lavender. Full expression of Pinot Noir, albeit on the darker side!" - Winemaker Notes

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2021 Mahi Pinot Noir - $32 on special ; $36 RRP

"This wine comes from four vineyards throughout Marlborough, all lending different characters to the wine. The Twin Valleys portion from the cooler Fareham Road area gives us the palate structure that we require, offering finesse to the back-palate. Fruit from the southern valleys gave mid-palate texture and the portion from Ward, approximately 45 kilometres south of Blenheim, providing great depth to the palate, with rich black fruit characters. A full and rich bouquet, this wine is mouth filling, ripe and supple with good complexity. Dark cherries and plums combine with soft tannins to give a wellrounded finish." - Winemaker Notes 
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2020 Ostler Estate Pinot Noir - $29 on special ; $39 RRP 

"Vibrant pink and purple hues lead to aromas of equal vibrato with red fruit scents of crushed raspberry, boysenberry and fresh cherry. A lifted sweet floral complexity along with aromas of stones and mineral then spices of fruit and oak. Youthful, fresh and dry on the palate with a core of red fruit flavours that mirror the nose. An abundance of fine chalky textured tannins and acidity layer in mouthfeel and poise. A lovely wine with a balance of complexity and charm, length and youthful charm. Best drinking from late 2021 through 2026+." - 93 Points, Cam Douglas MS 

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2020 Mount Edward TED Pinot Noir - $33 on special ; $38 RRP 

// Certified Organic 

"Organic, soft, supple and Central Otago delicious– everything you want in a Pinot Noir. Awesome value and just the ticket when needing something new and special. Grapes from our Estate vineyards, destemmed, wild yeasts, French oak, no fining nor filtration." - Winemaker Notes 

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2020 Burn Cottage Moonlight Race Pinot Noir$60 on special ; $68 RRP 

"From vintage 2018 our Moonlight Race has been solely about our two unique estate vineyards: Burn Cottage Vineyard in Lowburn, and Sauvage Vineyard in Bannockburn. The combination of these two sites produces a vibrant expression of classic Central Otago Pinot Noir. Bright notes of cherry, florals and pepper spice are accompanied by rosehip and savoury earth characters. There is a lovely concentrated core supported by supple texture, and fine tannins extending through the palate. Approachable now, and with cellaring potential to 7 years." - Winemaker Notes

"Straight up delicious. Easy drinking but with enough going on to settle the pinot nerds. Dark cherry, sappy tannins, fresh feeling and lifted, a bit of spice to finish. Feels unadorned and pure, cool and refreshing in a way. Delicious drinking, on cruise control and super appealing. Great to see such unadorned and fresh feeling wines." - 93 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

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2020 Valli Bendigo Pinot Noir - $75 on special ; $85 RRP 

"Complex and pure, more than just varietal a bouquet – layers of texture scents with sense of place and time then fruit aromas of crushed cherry flesh and preserved roses, raspberry and a soft savoury thyme quality. Seamless on the palate with a youthful core structure from fine needle point tannins and acid line, plush velvet mouthfeel with contrasting plum, cherry and even a touch of blueberry fruit. Oak flavours and tannins are layered throughout the wine teasing the senses, salivating and adding just a touch of sweetness then light smoky baking spices. Fantastic wine with best drinking from 2023 through 2030+" - 98 Points, Cameron Douglas MW 

"A perfumed nose of red cherries, ripe strawberries, grated nutmeg, bark and orange peel. Medium- to full-bodied with silky, tightly-knit tannins. Succulent and generous on the palate with a wash of red and black fruit and berries oscillating and evolving through to a long finish. Oolong and chicory root add complexity and depth. Structured to age. Drink or hold." - 95 points, JamesSuckling.com

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2018 Terra Sancta Slapjack Pinot Noir - $75 on special ; $86 RRP

"An ethereal Pinot Noir, it has a nose of violets, boysenberry, plum, black olive and vanilla. Telling the story of the vintage, it is sweet-fruited and pretty with cherry, raspberry and blackberry, along with savoury tapenade and a touch of char and spice. Possessing talcy tannins and lively acidity, complexity builds mid-palate and it has a long, harmonious finish." - Winemaker Notes

"Elegant, complex pinot noir that's fine-grained and seamless, with layers of flavours including roasted chestnut, black cherry, spicy oak, fresh herb and subtle floral characters. Certainly approachable now but with promising potential." - 96 Points, Bob Campbell, The Real Review

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2020 Dry River Pinot Noir - $139 on special ; $159 RRP 

"An ethereal Pinot Noir, it has a nose of violets, boysenberry, plum, black olive and vanilla. Telling the story of the vintage, it is sweet-fruited and pretty with cherry, raspberry and blackberry, along with savoury tapenade and a touch of char and spice. Possessing talcy tannins and lively acidity, complexity builds mid-palate and it has a long, harmonious finish." - Winemaker Notes 

"Elegant, complex pinot noir that's fine-grained and seamless, with layers of flavours including roasted chestnut, black cherry, spicy oak, fresh herb and subtle floral characters. Certainly approachable now but with promising potential." - 96 Points, Bob Campbell, The Real Review 


If you wish to purchase these wines, please use the links above. Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions

// Prices valid until Thursday the 30th of March

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