Curtis Octavian Shiraz 2020

The latest release from the Curtis Family certainly looks the goods – semi-squat bottle, which is midnight black, minimalist label and white wax covering the cork. Fortunately, the insides match the package. A richly flavoured, gorgeous McLaren Vale Shiraz from what is proving to be a solid vintage. The wine spent two years maturing in French oak hogsheads, before bottling.

Inky black hue, the aromas weave through chocolate, dark plums, spices, cigar box notes, bay leaves, black fruits and aniseed. There is a hint of mint and some oak still evident at this early stage, though it is all coming together nicely. The wine is powerful, coiled and concentrated. Impressive length with very soft tannins, though lots of them. The wine, that is rich and full of flavour, should easily provide pleasure for the next ten to fifteen years.