Description An expressive fine quality Shiraz from McLaren Vale. Fragrant, full-bodied, complex, and delicious with scores of 92pts and 93pts. From a family that can trace its history back to 1499! Paolo Curtis was appointed by Cardinal de Medici to administer Papal lands in the area around Cervaro. (The name Curtis is believed to derive from Curtius, a noble and wealthy Roman Empire family.) The family came to Australia in 1953, and has been growing grapes and making wine in McLaren Vale since 1973. This 2024 vintage Shiraz displays traits typical of McLaren Vale terroir, and the terra rossa soils that the Shiraz vines thrive in. Enjoy intense aromas of ripe blackberry and dark cherry leap from the glass, a little violet, dark chocolate and pepper in the mix too. The palate is full-bodied and generous, with luscious flavours of black plum, mulberry, and blueberry preserve, balanced by savoury notes of cured meat, herbs, and mocha. The distinctive terra rossa soils contribute a mineral backbone that provides structure and complexity.
With nearly 200 years of winemaking history, McLaren Vale is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions and today home to 177 wineries. Protected by mountains and the sea, the McLaren Vale wine region is a veritable smorgasbord of wine styles and just a short 45-minute road-trip from Adelaide to McLaren Vale. McLaren Vale is actually the first place in South Australia where vines were planted. Multi-generational wineries are commonplace here. Vineyards stretch from the Mount Lofty Ranges way out to the sea. "McLaren Vale has many secrets waiting to be discovered, from the folds of its ever-changing landscape, to its small restaurants and cellar doors and the spectacular d’Arenberg Cube." – James Halliday. There is a wealth of experimental winemakers here, with winemakers constantly pushing the boundaries and setting new benchmarks. Having said that, McLaren Vale is renowned for Rhone red varieties such as Shiraz and Grenache. Another hotbed for delicious wine is Fleurieu surrounded by beautiful beaches and temperate weather.
McLaren Vale is demarcated by its various elevations and soils into several distinctive sub-regions. They include Blewitt Springs, where the wines “have a unique structure, texture, flavour and style, elegant yet highly aromatic and effortlessly flavoured” - James Halliday. Other sub-regions include Willunga, Sellicks, Seaview and McLaren Flat. “Grenache is McLaren Vale’s secret weapon – not merely Australia’s best, but every bit as good as that of the Rhône Valley.” – James Halliday.