|
NOTES
John Duval is an internationally recognised winemaker, having been the custodian of Penfolds Grange for almost 30 years as part of his role as chief red winemaker at Penfolds. He remains involved with Penfolds as a consultant, but these days is concentrating on establishing his own brand, and providing consultancy services to other clients in various parts of the world. On the principle ‘if not broken, don’t fix’, he is basing his business on Shiraz and Shiraz blends from old-vine vineyards in the Barossa Valley. The brand name Plexus, incidentally, denotes a network in an animal body that combines elements into a coherent structure.
John’s aim with ENTITY is to produce a wine true to the Barossa Valley, variety, and vintage. 2007 was a more challenging vintage, with ongoing drought conditions and frost effects reducing yields and resulting in a very early start to vintage. The first Shiraz was picked on the 9th of February, nearly 3 weeks earlier than average, was all but finished by the middle of March. For the 2007 vintage I have included some Eden Valley Shiraz to help maintain the elegance and style of Entity. The more subtle French oak was chosen to compliment the ripe blackberry, blueberry fruit. Traditional, low intervention winemaking techniques were employed with Entity, allowing the wine to be approachable in its youth, but with ample structure and fruit depth to allow great potential for improvement in the bottle under good cellaring conditions, for at least 10 years.
TASTING NOTES
Dense ruby purple in colour; its nose an array of youthful dark fruits of blackberry and plum combine with subtle French oak. A well structured palate with good concentration of pure Barossa dark fruit. Long and rich, balanced by savoury supporting tannins. Quality French oak adds polish to the dark fruit, and allows the old vineyards to show through.
OTHER REVIEWS
A fragrant bouquet and high-toned palate, quality oak an essential part of the wine; an almost European restraint in its make-up. Screwcap.14.5% alc. Rating 94 Drink 2017, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010
|
|
