2013 John Duval "Plexus" SGM Barossa Valley South Australia

Professional Reviews

Staff Reviews

RW

Ryan Woodhouse

Ryan Woodhouse

My notes on the wine are above so here I'll just tell a quick story about the man behind the wine. I was at a seminar in San Francisco a while back and a panel of Australian winemakers (including John Duval) were arguing about the use of Syrah Vs. Shiraz. Some said they used Syrah to denote that they were making a cooler climate style, with more restraint like one would typically associate with French expressions of Syrah. Duval interjected saying "we're from Australia, we make fu%&ing Shiraz"..."just because I call it Shiraz doesn't mean it has to be some over-ripe fruit bomb...Shiraz can be just as elegant and perfumed as Syrah...what name you use shouldn't dictate the style you make or vice versa." His comments really struck a chord with me and I see this attitude in his wines. They are authentic expressions of the land they come from but also prove that balance and poise can be found even in the warmer growing regions of the world.

Notes

I really enjoyed this latest release from Barossa legend John Duval. I have always admired the purity and balance in his wines but this 2013 release is something else. It's beautifully fresh and energetic with fine but persistent tannins teasing the black and blue fruits long on the palate. Asian spices and a whiff of floral violets add a nice accent. Finishes dry and tight with elegant focus and restraint for such a powerful wine. In a blind tasting I may well have picked this as hailing from a cooler climate than Barossa, it has such poise and energy. I really like this. (Ryan Woodhouse, K&L Aussie wine buyer) 93 points Wine Front: "This is a smooth ride. It's a fantastic drink. It smells of black berries, licorice, dried herbs, pepper and earth. It's medium bodied, fringed with satiny tannins, crisp with acidity, long and fine in fruit flavour, finishing sweet and lightly salty. Feels elegant, seamless, flowing and delicious. Fruit is to the fore, though a little sinewy cedar chimes in well too. It's a very complete and highly drinkable blend that shows the warm heart of the region in simple fruitiness, meshed into good structure. So well done. Drink loads. A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Shiraz comes from old vineyards in Tanunda, Krondorf and Ebenezer, the Grenache comes from Tanunda and Ebenezer, Mourvèdre from Light Pass in the Barossa Valley."