South Australia
100% Shiraz
14.5% Alc
36 Months In New Oak 50% French 50% American
80 Year Old Vines
2 hours of breathing time

The 2021 vintage in McLaren Vale has been heralded by the local wine community as "one of the best of the 21st Century." This outstanding year followed two challenging seasons, delivering both quality and quantity that exceeded expectations.

The season began with excellent winter rainfall that filled soil profiles and established healthy vine canopies. A wet winter, allowing the vines to produce a good canopy, and a cool and dry summer for even ripening. The 2021 Vintage created optimal conditions. The region experienced low summer temperatures, which have given us even, slow ripening; producing good flavours.

Vineyards were more productive, with higher yields at harvest, compared to recent seasons with the increase in vine yields combined with excellent quality.

The vintage's quality has drawn comparisons to legendary years, with winemakers stating it will be "one that will be talked about for a long time. The wines are characterized by excellent natural acidity, intense aromatics, and beautiful colour concentration.

Appearance: Deep purple-black with a vibrant crimson rim.

Nose: Intensely aromatic, revealing layers of blackberry compote, dark plum, and black cherry, complemented by notes of mocha, vanilla bean, and sweet spices. Complex undertones of black pepper, dark chocolate, and subtle hints of Mediterranean herbs emerge with aeration.

Palate: Full-bodied and opulent, displaying remarkable concentration from the old vines. Rich flavours of black fruits cascade across the palate, interweaving with dark chocolate, espresso, and sweet tobacco. The 36-month oak maturation contributes sophisticated notes of vanilla, cedar, and toasted spice while adding structure and complexity.

Finish: Exceptionally long and profound, with fine-grained tannins providing excellent structure. The finish reveals layers of dark fruit, spice, and a subtle minerality characteristic of McLaren Vale terroir.

Cellaring: While drinking beautifully now, this wine will continue to evolve and develop additional complexity over the next 15-40 years when cellared properly.

97 points - Sam Kim Wine Orbit - Vintage 2021

96 points - Ray Jordan Wine Pilot - Vintage 2021

94 points - Ken Gargett - Wine Pilot - Vintage 2021

93 points - Cyndal Petty Wine Pilot - Vintage 2021

93 points - Ned Goodwin - Vintage 2021

Curtis Gladiator McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

Name: Curtis Gladiator McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021
Brand: Curtis
SKU: 193440031010517
Price: 1368 HKD
Availability: InStock

庫存單位： 193440031010517

HK$1,368.00

數量

Curtis Winery has been a premium McLaren Vale Wine Producer since 1973.

The Extraordinary Journey of Curtis Family Vineyards
The story of Curtis Family Vineyards is one of resilience, heritage, and the enduring power of old-world wisdom in new-world terroir. It's a tale that spans continents and centuries—from the noble families of ancient Rome to the sun-drenched vineyards of South Australia's McLaren Vale.

Mark Curtis's introduction to winemaking began before he could walk. Born into the third generation of Curtis Family Vineyards in McLaren Vale, Mark's earliest memories are inseparable from the rhythm of the vineyard—harvest mornings, fermentation tanks, and the careful ritual of tasting that shaped his palate from childhood.
Under the tutelage of his grandparents and parents, who immigrated from Italy and established the family's McLaren Vale operations in 1973, Mark learned viticulture as a native language. His education was hands-on and immersive: understanding soil composition by texture and taste, recognizing the subtle differences between vineyard blocks, and developing an intuitive sense for the weather patterns that define McLaren Vale's unique terroir.

By adolescence, Mark was actively participating in harvest operations and cellar work, learning the technical aspects of winemaking alongside the family's traditional methods passed down from their Italian heritage dating to 1499. His formal education in viticulture complemented this practical foundation, providing the scientific framework to support generations of empirical knowledge.

Today, Mark leads day-to-day operations at Curtis Winery alongside his siblings Thomas and Jenna, continuing the family's commitment to small-batch, premium wine production. His approach balances respect for the estate's century-old Grenache and 60-year-old Shiraz vines with modern sustainable practices, where his deep understanding of the family's vineyard resources has produced award-winning results.

Mark's winemaking philosophy reflects his upbringing: patient, meticulous, and deeply connected to place—a natural evolution of growing up where every lesson began with the land itself.

Curtis Gladiator McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

Winery Info