Shiraz    2022

Cavaliere

Cavaliere Shiraz Wine From Curtis family Vineyards, Mclaren Vale

Elegant and refined, Curtis Cavaliere Shiraz Wine is a tribute to timeless sophistication. Crafted with finesse and care, this wine delivers beautifully balanced flavours and a smooth, polished finish. It’s a noble expression of McLaren Vale’s winemaking heritage, graceful yet full of character.

Sale price$70.00

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Package: 1 Bottle

Luigi Curtis - Cavaliere, Medaglia D’Oro

He was bestowed these two highly prestigious awards for his military service during World War I.

The title ‘Cavaliere’ is equivalent to Knighthood and is bestowed to persons of exceptional character, with the ‘Medaglia D’Oro’ being the highest military award.

Luigi Curtis, 1894 - 1975


We commemorate our great-grandfather with the release of this label in honour of his toil, integrity & strength of character.

Luigi Curtis - Cavaliere, Medaglia D’Oro

He was bestowed these two highly prestigious awards for his military service during World War I.

The title ‘Cavaliere’ is equivalent to Knighthood and is bestowed to persons of exceptional character, with the ‘Medaglia D’Oro’ being the highest military award.

Luigi Curtis, 1894 - 1975


We commemorate our great-grandfather with the release of this label in honour of his toil, integrity & strength of character.
AWARDS

2022

2022

Opaque inky-black with a bright purple rim. The nose is fragrant with ripe blackberry, dark chocolate and spices. On the palate this is full-bodied and powerful, delivering rich dark berry fruit with layers of dark chocolate, liquorice and firm, structured tannins. It shows excellent concentration and length with a classic McLaren Vale backbone.
Vino Masters Score: 95/100 ★★★★★ Bold and structured.

Macerated red and blackberries, potpourri, roasted coffee beans, black olive tapenade, bresaola and ironstone, juniper berries. This is the least oak-dominated wine of the collection, where the fruit's vibrancy is retained and on full show, the delivery keeps its momentum, and a confident alternation of fruit and savoury elements unfurls until the very end - leaving a palate that is tonic rather than burned and tired by alcohol and oak weight.
Lisa Cardelli Wine Pilot Score: 94/100 ★★★★★

Upfront and immediately appealing, the bouquet features blackberry, vanilla, star anise, dried flower, and cedar characters. The palate is equally appealing with a plush mouthfeel and beautifully melded tannins, making it sumptuous and velvety with a sustained, satisfying finish.
Sam Kim Wine Orbit Score: 94/100 ★★★★★

A generously proportioned heartland Shiraz that’s packed with blackberry, plum, mocha and spice with all the fleshy, pulpy textural trimmings. The palate is rich and plush, framed by ripe, soft tannins and whipped fresh with orangey acidity. Full of flavour, muscularity, density, it delivers a satisfying expression of regional oomph while maintaining composure and drinkability.
Mike Bennie AWB Magazine Score: 94/100★★★★★
While the ‘Small Batch’ is clearly the brighter, fresher and more imminently drinkable idiom of the range, there is ample room for traditional. powerful expressions from McLaren Vale. Here is one of them. Mocha and coffee grind oak on the nose segues to a hefty palate of bramble and assorted berries. Yet the ultimate impression is one of the vanillin toasty oak, a bit scratchy, doused across a bolshy finish. Well made, sure, but a wine for the converted.
Ned Goodwin MW Score: 92/100★★★★★

Full-bodied and full-throttle shiraz out of McLaren Vale. Saturated plum,
vanilla cream, saltbush, rust, peppercorn and bitumen characters
explode through the palates and out through the finish. It’s gutsy, warm
and svelte all at once. Firm, velvety tannin completes a
smooth-but-robust picture.

Campbel Mattinson Score: 93/100★★★★★





2021

2021

Gold Medal – International Sommeliers Choice Awards
17 points – Jancis Robinson
96 points – Russell Gallagher, Vino Masters
95 points – Sam Kim Wine Orbit
94 points – Sam Kim Wine Orbit
94 points – Bob Campbell, The Real Review
94 points – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
94 points – Campbell Mattinson
93 points – Asia International Wine Competition
92 points – Cyndal Petty, Wine Pilot
92 points – Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
92 points – Melbourne International Wine Competition
92 points – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
91 points – Lisa Cardelli, Wine Pilot
90 points – Ned Goodwin

Before 2021

Before 2021

Gold Medal – AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge (Vintage 2020)
95 points – Sam Kim Wine Orbit (Vintage 2020)
95 points – Wine Showcase Magazine (Vintage 2020)
94 points – Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot (Vintage 2020)
94 points – John Clark, The Wine Panel (Vintage 2020)
93 points – Andy Lloyd, The Wine Panel (Vintage 2020)
92 points – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot (Vintage 2020)
90 points – Melbourne International Wine Competition (Vintage 2020)
95 points – Sam Kim Wine Orbit (Vintage 2018)
95 points – Sam Kim Wine Orbit (Vintage 2017)
95 points – Sam Kim Wine Orbit (Vintage 2016)
95 points – Sam Kim Wine Orbit (Vintage 2015)
94 points – James Halliday Wine Companion (Vintage 2016)
94 points – Patrick Eckel, Winereviewer.com.au (Vintage 2015)
94 points – James Halliday Wine Companion (Vintage 2014)
94 points – James Halliday Wine Companion (Vintage 2013)
94 points – James Halliday Wine Companion (Vintage 2012)
94 points – James Halliday Wine Companion (Vintage 2010)
91 points – James Halliday Wine Companion (Vintage 2015)
91 points – James Halliday Wine Companion (Vintage 2011)
91 points – James Halliday Wine Companion (Vintage 2009)
4½ stars – Winestate magazine, Wine of the Year (Vintage 2015)
Number #5 – vivino.com, Australian Shiraz Wine Style Awards 2018
Number #1 – vivino.com, Top 20 Wines in Australia $40–$80 per bottle

WINEMAKING

Curtis Family Vineyards sources fruit from a combination of owned vineyards and premium McLaren Vale growers. 

The blend of individual vineyards and sub-regional characteristics is the key to the resulting style.

Handpicked in the cool of early morning and slowly destemmed and roller table sorted to maintain whole berries, retained for aromatic lift. 

Berries and juice are then chilled down to allow for cold soaking to encourage early colour stabilisation and gentle phenolic release.

Fermented in small open fermenters with daily air purging and rummaging delicately, allowing gentle pump-overs as the cap softened. Peak fermentation temperatures are held at 18–20°C to preserve dark fruit aromatics while allowing full extraction.

The wine completed malolactic fermentation in barrel and matured for 36 months in a selection of fine-grained French oak  & American Oak hogsheads, 100% new. 

This patient aging process allows the wine to develop remarkable complexity while softening its structure and integrating subtle oak characteristics with the fruit's natural expression.

The extended barrel aging bestows the wine with sophisticated layers of flavour and a refined texture that complements the varietal's inherent silkiness. 

This careful maturation transforms excellent fruit into an exceptional wine, creating depth and nuance that only time can provide.

Aging potential 10 - 40 years

TASTING NOTE

The nose exhibits aromas of ripe blackberry and dark plum followed by some licorice and confectionery notes.

Full-bodied and possessing a plump texture the palate delivers rich juicy flavours of ripe blackberry, dark chocolates, licorice and spice. Soft velvety tannins. Good depth with medium to long aftertaste of blackberry, dark chocolate and spice.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does Curtis Cavaliere Shiraz taste like?

    It offers ripe blackberry and plum flavours layered with subtle spice, vanilla, and soft oak, finishing with a smooth, polished texture and refined structure.

  • What is the alcohol content of Cavaliere Shiraz?

    It typically sits around 14%–14.5% ABV, delivering a full-bodied yet balanced profile without feeling overly heavy.

  • Is Cavaliere Shiraz dry or slightly sweet?

    It is a dry wine, but the ripe fruit and soft tannins create a velvety, approachable mouthfeel, rather than a firm or aggressive finish.

  • What makes Cavaliere Shiraz smoother than other Shiraz wines?

    Its careful oak ageing and balanced tannin structure result in a silky, rounded finish, making it more refined than bold, high-tannin Shiraz styles.

  • Does this wine need decanting before serving?

    Yes—decanting for 20–30 minutes helps open up the aromas and enhances its smooth texture.

  • Can I drink this Shiraz now or should I cellar it?

    It is ready to drink now, but can also age for several years, developing more complexity and softness over time.

  • What is the ideal serving temperature for this wine?

    Serve at around 16–18°C. Slight cooling helps maintain balance and freshness.