John Duval Plexus Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre
One of the world’s great winemakers, John Duval was given the ‘Grange’ torch by Max Schubert, the man who created Australia’s most famous wine. John passed it on to his successor when he left Penfolds in 2003 to start his own label. He sources fruit from longtime friends in the Barossa, all of whom own vineyards with vines aged from 50 to 100 years old. The wines are made with minimal intervention and showcase the best of the Barossa.
The Shiraz grapes were sourced from old vineyards in the Krondorf, Marananga and Ebenezer sub-regions of Barossa, with a parcel from Eden Valley included for its vibrant aromatics and flavour, while the Grenache grapes were sourced from vineyards located at Tanunda and Ebenezer, and the Mourvèdre from Light Pass and Ebenezer.
2019 was a vintage where quality triumphed over quantity, with spring frosts and dry conditions combining for greatly reduced yields across Barossa. Volumes were lower than average, some vineyards more than 50% down, particularly in Eden Valley. However, the fruit that was produced showed exceptional depth of colour, vibrant yet concentrated fruit with plenty of structure on the palate. 2019 will be remembered as a year for texture, structure and richness.
The parcels of fruit were fermented separately with a submerged cap in small, open, stainless steel fermenters. A portion of the Grenache ferment included whole bunches to accentuate the savoury aspects of the variety. The wines were barrel matured for 15 months, with 10% in new fine-grain French oak hogsheads and the balance in older seasoned hogsheads.
This Shiraz Grenache Mourvèdre blend brings lifted vibrant red fruit aromas on the nose, with underlying notes of liquorice, cinnamon and a hint of smokey oak. Generous, velvety layers of red and black fruits abound on the palate, with hints of savoury spice and gentle tannins, ending in a very long and pure finish.
