AWARDS + REVIEWS
2004 PLEXUS
Gold - 2006 International Wine Challenge, London
95 Points "Far more structure and substance than the majority of Barossa Valley blends of these varieties; abundant, spicy black fruits; excellent tannins and oak."
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, 2007
93 Points "Rich, sumptuous bouquet of blueberries, tree bark, earth, pepper, and background floral scents." Robert Parker Jr, The Wine Advocate, October, 2006
Wine of the Week "Barossa reds are not always to my taste...But this one I found seriously well crafted, expressing Barossa's extreme heat and slightly medicinal quality but with great gentleness and approachability."
Jancis Robinson, Jancis Robinson.com, August 8, 2006
91 Points "Ripe blackberry and pomegranate flavours, balanced with lively acidity."
The Wine Spectator Insider, July 12, 2006
"Here's the former Grange maker's Barossa shiraz grenache mataro blend, and a beautiful thing it is. Fine, tight, intense and perfectly focused and balanced, it shows that you can get higher alcohol without jam and fudge. It has lovely viscosity but, like the French oak, even that's overshadowed a tad by the sheer tart intensity of the fruit. Twenty years.
Philip White, The Adelaide Advertiser April, 2006
"The Plexus, predictably is softer, broader, fleshier, more floral and fruit sweet- typical of Rhone blends - but, being Shiraz-dominant, it has better backbone than many of the more grenache-led Rhone styles about the place."
Huon Hooke, Syndey Morning Herald, March 14, 2006
2003 PLEXUS
94 Points "From Penfolds former winemaker's debut release is the 2003 Plexus, a brilliant blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre that was aged in 30% new French oak. At present there are only 500 cases of this stunning effort, but hopefully production will increase. A dense ruby/purple colour is followed by an extraordinarily precise nose of flowers, blackberries, kirsch, licorice and a hint of Provencal herbs. A pleasant smokiness and meaty richness also emerge as the wine sits in the glass. Opulent, full bodied, stunningly pure, and dense as well as elegant and well delineated, it can be drunk now or cellared for 10 to 12 years. Kudos to John Duval."
Robert Parker Jr, The Wine Advocate, October 2005
93 Points "If you love Barossa reds, this one feels like a best friend who's always there for you."
Wine and Spirit Magazine, June 2005
Duval made Grange when he was chief winemaker for Penfolds. No surprise, then, that this Shiraz/Grenache blend, the first wine to be released under his own label is a cracker: spicy, tightly wound wild berry fruit, fine tannins and superb length. Intense but elegant now, it should also age superbly.
Max Allen, The Australian Magazine, April 23-24, 2005
An excellent red, as you'd expect from the former Penfolds chief, cast in a complex, savory style without excess of oak or alcohol. The bouquet has nutmeg and other subtle spices, together with raspberry and cranberry fruit. Serious depth: now to 2010.
Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, Good Living, April 19, 2005
"Since leaving Southcorp, where he made flagships like Penfolds Grange, eyes have been on John Duval. What next for this celebrated winemaker? We have the answer: his own range of old-vine Barossa reds. The first installment is delicious and richly concentrated, all ripe berries, spices and dates with subtle oak, mouth coating texture and ripe, friendly tannins."
Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Melbourne Age Epicure Uncorked, March 22, 2005
94 Points "Duval returns to duty with a near perfect example of the traditional Barossa blend, but with more fragrance, finesse, elegance and intensity than most modern Barossa reds. The wine has astounding length and persistence and haunts the palate long after the glass empties. It's gently spicy, complex and silky with savoury velvet tannins to make you hungry. It'll cellar for at least 15 years, but it'll be very hard to keep past 2010 by which time it will be an absolute dream."
Philip White, The Adelaide Advertiser, February 24, 2005
