Curtis Family Vineyards Ancestor McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

Oh my, I’m liking this wine. The fruit was handpicked from hundred-year-old vines and after handpicking and time on skins, it was slowly fermented over 21 days, during which time colors developed and the tannins integrated perfectly into the palate. The oak was a mix of French and American which seems to suit this variety and this region. On the nose, typical vibrant red berry, and the vanilla and coconut characters of the American oak are well to the fore but not overstated. It’s smooth, seamless, and plush, especially through the mid-palate, while those oak and tannin influences hold it into a precise focus to the long finish, a wine with excellent aging potential.