Winemaker Notes
During his 28 years winemaking with Penfolds, John Duval spent 17 at the helm as Chief Winemaker, custodian of Australia's most famous wine, Grange. It was during this tenure that John's passion for, and intimate knowledge of, the Barossa Valley and its old-vine fruit evolved. Forming relationships with many of the region's pioneering families, John was able to hand-select the region's best fruit for Penfolds Grange, establishing it as the most iconic Australian red wine of its time.
Now, almost a half a century after establishing his roots in the Barossa, these long-standing relationships with the region's fourth and fifth generation grape-growing families allow John to source such fruit for his own label, John Duval Wines. These wines convey his unique vision of the Barossa's potential, and doing so have gained international recognition for their finesse and polish. 5 years later, John Duval now unveils the wine that represents the pinnacle of his winemaking skill and unparalleled knowledge of Barossa's terroir: Eligo.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Underneath a slightly smoky, toasty exterior lies an explosion of cherry, raspberry and black cherry fruit that’s wonderfully pure without being simple. The texture is creamy and lush without being unstructured or jammy, while the finish goes on and on. Drink now–2020.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2005 Eligo is a vineyard selection that contains 95% Shiraz and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon. Purple-colored, it exhibits aromas of pain grille, pencil lead, espresso, licorice, blackberry, and blueberry. Opulent on the palate, it has gobs of fruit but narrows out slightly in the finish. For more than twice the price, it delivers no more pleasure than its two siblings.
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James Suckling
This is the first Eligo made and sits right in the zone, with still-fresh blackberry and red-plum aromas and flavors, as well as a spicy-chocolate thread. This has long, fully formed tannins and holds flavor long. A small 5% inclusion of Coonawarra cabernet here. Drink or hold.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Historically and presently the most important wine-producing region of Australia, the Barossa Valley is set in the Barossa zone of South Australia, where more than half of the country’s wine is made. Because the climate is very hot and dry, vineyard managers work diligently to ensure grapes reach the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness.
The intense heat is ideal for plush, bold reds, particularly Shiraz on its own or Rhône Blends. Often Shiraz and Cabernet partner up for plump and powerful reds.
While much less prevalent, light-skinned varieties such as Riesling, Viognier or Semillon produce vibrant Barossa Valley whites.
Most of Australia’s largest wine producers are based here and Shiraz plantings date back as far as the 1850s or before. Many of them are dry farmed and bush trained, still offering less than one ton per acre of inky, intense, purple juice.