Curtis Family Gladiator McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

Before anyone goes all Russell Crowe, this superb McLaren Vale red is all Australian in every way (okay, a mix of French and American oak in which the wine spent three years maturing, but you know what I mean). A twenty-one day fermentation, the fruit is from 80-year-old vines. The wine is under cork. A deep crimson/red colour here, the nose exhibits warm earth notes, coffee grinds, animal skins, tobacco leaves, black olives, soy and chocolate. This is a powerful and bold wine. There is certainly oak evident and it still needs a little time to fully integrate, but it is well on its way. The palate sees sweet black cherries to the fore. A wine of medium length, good intensity and fine tannins, this will be even better in two to three years and then drink beautifully for a further decade.