Curtis Ancestor
McLaren Vale Shiraz
We dated our family tree to 1471 when Paolo Curtis started wine production on the original Curtis Family property “La Cavata” near Cassino, Central Italy.
We made this wine to commemorate the sacrifice & toil of centuries of hard work that have led us to now.
The Ancestor Shiraz fruit was hand-picked from 80-year-old vines, gently destemmed & cold-soaked on skins for 14 days,
and fermented slowly for a further 14 days. Giving time to allow slow extraction of colour & silky tannins.
This extra time allows the wine to develop a great depth of flavour & palate structure.
The ferment is slowly pressed directly into a mixture of French & American oak barrels.
The magic happens over the next 24 months where the wine will develop & integrate into a special montage of flavourful delights.
Aromas of ripe red berries, vanilla & coconut. Full-bodied palate structure with a complex mix of flavours, ripe red berries, coconut, chocolate & spice. Great middle palate sweetness with well-integrated oak characters. Well balanced & long silky tannin finish.
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Best National Producer Of The Year 2024
AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge
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Trophy - AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge - Vintage 2021
Gold Medal - AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge - Vintage 2021
Gold Medal - London Wine Competition - Vintage 2020
Gold Medal - Melbourne International Wine Competition - Vintage 2021
Gold Medal - AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge - Vintage 2020
97 points - Sam Kim Wine Orbit - Vintage 2021
97 points - Sam Kim Wine Orbit - Vintage 2018
95 points - Mike Bennie - Australian Wine Business Magazine - Vintage 2021
95 points - Bob Campbell, The Real Review - Vintage 2021
95 points - Australian Wine Showcase - Vintage 2021
95 points - John Clark - The Wine Panel - Vintage 2020
95 points - Stuart Knox, The Real Review - Vintage 2018
94 points - Melbourne International Wine Competition - Vintage 2021
94 points - Ray Jordan - The Wine Pilot - Vintage 2021
94 points - Andy Lloyd - The Wine Panel - Vintage 2020
94 points - London Wine Competition - Vintage 2020
94 points - Ken Gargett - The Wine Pilot - Vintage 2020
94 points - Bob Campbell, The Real Review - Vintage 2018
93 points - Ned Goodwin - Vintage 2021
93 points - Ken Gargett Wine Pilot - Vintage 2021
93 points - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review - Vintage 2021
93 points - Stuart Knox, The Real Review - Vintage 2020
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