Blended of 70% Grenache and 30% Shiraz, La Curio’s 2009 The Nubile Grenache Shiraz has a medium garnet-purple color. With a moderately intense nose of black raspberries, warm cherries and ultra ripe strawberries over stewed tea, black pepper and some dusty earth, this is a full bodied, concentrated red with a medium level of velvety tannins, refreshing acid and a long finish. Drink it now through 2015. Importer: CLD Imports, Barrington, IL; tel. (847) 898-9500

The bulk of the 2008 The Nubile Grenache (70%)-Shiraz (30%) was aged for 18 months in seasoned French and American oak with a small fraction aged in new French oak. Dark ruby-colored, it displays an alluring bouquet of cigar box, underbrush, Asian spices, and black cherry. Velvety-textured with a bit of underlying structure, this savory, full-flavored wine will drink well for another 6-8 years. The man behind La Curio, a project begun in 2003, is Adam Hooper, a member of the Redheads gang since 2006.Importer: CLD Wines, Barrington, IL; tel. (847) 898-9500

The purple-colored 2007 The Nubile Grenache (70%) Shiraz (30%) spent 18 months in seasoned French and American oak hogsheads with a dollop of the wine spending time in new Allier barrels. The alluring bouquet reveals violets, lavender, mineral, cherry, and blueberry. This is followed by a full-bodied, full-flavored wine which nicely conceals enough structure to permit several additional years of cellaring. Harmonious, concentrated, and lengthy, it should have a drinking window extending from 2010 to 2022. La Curio was established in 2003 by Adam Hooper who makes his wines at the well-known Redheads Studio. The focus is on old-vine Grenache and Shiraz from McLaren Vale.Importer: CLD Imports, Barrington, IL; tel. (847) 898-9500

The 2006 The Nubile is composed of 70% Grenache and 30% Shiraz. Purple-colored with a ruby rim, it offers aromas of damp earth, smoked herbs, kirsch, and blueberry. Smooth-textured, ripe and sweet, the wine is made in a racy style meant for drinking over the next several years. La Curio is a garagiste winery operating out of Red Heads Studio in McLaren Vale. Fruit is sourced from a range of McLaren Vale vineyards with the bush vine parcel estimated to be over 80 years of age.Importer: CLD Imports, Barrington, IL; www.lacuriowines.com Also tasted: 2004 Grenache “Bush Vine” Reserve (92), 2004 Shiraz Reserve (92)

An unfiltered blend of equal parts Grenache and Shiraz, the 2003 The Nubile was produced from 40- to 80-year-old Grenache vines. It reveals notions of creamy American oak along with plenty of sweet black cherry and currant fruit and hints of earth as well as pepper. Rich, medium to full-bodied, low in acidity, plush, and tasty, it should be consumed over the next 3-4 years. Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel (610) 486-0800