Winemaker Notes
Vibrant garnet-purple. Lifted aromas of red fruits, rose petals and dried herbs enhanced by cinnamon and earth. Medium bodied showing bright and fleshy layers of raspberry, redcurrant and darker fruit edges. Supple, classy tannins leading to a soft-textured elegant finish.
Blend: 51% Shiraz, 32% Grenache, 17% Mourvedre
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Vibrant, with blackberry, blueberry and spiced plum flavors that are fresh, plump and generous at the core. Impressively elegant and seamless, featuring fresh earth, spice and floral notes that linger effortlessly alongside fine-grained tannins. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2037.
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James Suckling
A blend of 51% Shiraz, 32% Grenache and 17% Mourvèdre, Duval's 2017 Plexus is marked by 15 months in French oak. Scents of mocha, cedar and caramel join hints of cherries and spice on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is smooth and supple, finishing harmonious and long.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.