La Curio Reserve Shiraz

Aromas of stewed fruits, liquorices and blackberries dominate the nose. Complex chocolate and clove notes balance with the alluring use of the oak. The palate delivers a generous weight of plum, licorice and dark chocolate with hints of black pepper spice. A full bodied wine with supple consistency and solid structure, a reflection of the harmonious addition of the nearly 50 years old Shiraz vineyard from Blewitt Springs to our collection. Drink now to 2015; 220 cases produced.

Gold in Australia Small Winemakers Show,
Silver in McLaren Vale Wine Show
92 James Halliday points

Blewitt Springs bush vine vineyard

Our ultimate escape! A complex wine fashioned from 80 years old bush vines and polished in French oak. Lifted raspberry, notes of cream and a sprinkling of white pepper abound on the nose. The palate is a medley of raspberries and sweet musk, complemented by oak spices of cedar and hints of nutmeg. This wine is an excellent example of the concentration of 2004 vintage in McLaren Vale. The majority of fruit comes from a single bush vine vineyard located on the Blewitt Springs hilltops (see picture). Drink now to 2013; 120 cases produced

Sold out
Bronze in Australia Small Winemakers Show,
Bronze in McLaren Vale Wine Show
91 James Halliday points

2004 The Nubile Grenache Shiraz

The wine is a 70% Grenache, 30% Shiraz Blend. Strawberries, plum and hints of raspberry lift on the nose, characteristics typical of our 50 years old ‘Lazarus’ Grenache vineyard, supported by oak spice of cinnamon and vanilla. The generous palate delivers more raspberry and plum, layered with savoury notes of bitter chocolate and coffee. As this Shiraz vineyard is coming into age its concentrated tannins show on the pallet, making the 2004 Nubile bolder than its predecessor the 2003. Drink now to 2010; 190 cases produced.

Bronze in Australia Small Winemakers Show
91 James Halliday points

Aromas of stewed fruits, liquorices and blackberries dominate the nose. Chocolate and clove notes complex with the oak. The palate delivers a generous weight of plum, licorices and dark chocolate with hints of black pepper spice. A full bodied wine with supple consistency and solid structure;.

350 cases produced; Drink now to 2020.

The Reserve Shiraz is made with a minimal intervention approach, retaining and enhancing the natural expression of the fruit. Small batch, up to 1 tonne open fermenters were used to keep vineyard parcels separate, allowing us to maintain and develop the unique character of each vineyard. The ferments last up to 14 days, producing wines of intense colour and flavour whilst still supple in tannin. The wines are pressed into a combination of new to four year old French and American oak hogsheads to mature for eighteen months.

Alc/Vol 15.0%; pH 3.46; TA 6.8g/L; Residual Sugar 2.3g/L

Harvest Date: March-April 2007

Bottling Date: August 2008
Silver medal in McLaren Vale Wine show

Wine Advocate #181, Feb 2008, 91 points

The Wine Front 92 points

Philip White,Drankster, 94 +++ pts

Winestate Magazine 4 stars

Our ultimate escape! Lifted raspberry, notes of cream and a sprinkling of white pepper abound on the nose. The palate is a medley of raspberries and sweet musk, complemented by oak spices of cedar and hints of nutmeg. The very fine tannin profile derived from maturation in French Allier oak, natural acidity and generosity of fruit ensure the wine will benefit from careful cellaring. 160 cases produced; Drink now to 2015.

We have strived to source fruit from some of the best old planting Grenache sites in McLaren Vale. The 2007 Reserve Grenache was sourced from three dry grown Grenache vineyards averaging eighty years of age. Winemaking again is a blend of both old and new techniques, small batch fermentation and hand plunging prior to traditional basket pressing. We incorporate whole bunches of fruit at a rate of approximately fifteen percent to the ferments in order to extract some additional tannin from the stalks and also provide some further interest in terms of aromatics.

Alc/Vol 15.0%; pH 3.39; TA 6.4g/L; Residual Sugar 2..1g/L

Harvest Date: March-April 2007

Bottling Date: August 2008

91 pts Sydney Morning Herald, Huon Hooke

Wine Advocate #181, Feb 2008, 90 points

The Wine Front 89 points

Philip White,Drankster, 94 + pts

2007 Nubile

$19.00/ bottle

The wine is a 70% Grenache, 30% Shiraz Blend. Strawberries, plum and hints of raspberry lift on the nose, supported by oak spice of cinnamon and vanilla. The generous palate delivers more raspberry and plum, layered with savoury notes of bitter chocolate and coffee. Drink now to 2012; 360 cases produced

The 2007 Nubile was sourced from five different vineyards averaging forty years of age. We employ carbonic and extended maceration, ‘salasso’ or juice concentration, yeast lees ageing, and ‘cryo’ or freeze extraction as some of our techniques in crafting this truly curious wine. The must is then traditionally hand plunged and basket pressed prior to grooming in a touch of new French Allier oak, the majority being matured in five year old tight grained French and American oak for eighteen months.

Alc/Vol 15.0%; pH 3.46; TA 6.8g/L; Residual Sugar 2.3g/L

Harvest Date: March-April 2007

Bottling Date: August 2008

Decanter World Wine Awards 2009, Bronze Medal

92 pts Gourmet Traveller, Huon Hooke

Wine Advocate #181, Feb 2008, 90 points

The Wine Front 92 points

Winestate Magazine 4.5 stars

Philip White,Drankster, 93 + pts