Winemaker Notes
Lifted aromatics highlight the bouquet with vibrant black fruits and underlying notes of cinnamon, woodsy spice and a hint of smoky oak. On the palate, generous layers of black and red fruits balance abundant savory spices and fine, velvety tannins. A bright acidity ensures that it finishes long and pure.
Blend: 49% Shiraz, 35% Grenache, 16% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
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Australian Wine Companion
An impressive 49/35/16% shiraz/grenache/mourvedre (from a 'who's who' of the best subregions in the Barossa Valley) made by ex-Grange winemaker, John Duval. Gorgeously perfumed with red cherry, raspberry and mulberry fruits flecked with floral notes of violets and jasmine with hints of ginger cake, red licorice, earth, cola and crushed stone. There is a lively acid cadence, superfine powdery tannins and an array of gingery spice and red fruit that fans out nicely on the finish. A bargain.
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Wine Spectator
Complex, rich and elegant, showing notes of espresso, Kalamata olive, salted black licorice and spiced plum on a plush frame, with hints of dark chocolate. Reveals black walnut liqueur, wild blackberry and huckleberry flavors that linger on the long, peppery finish. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre.
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Wine Enthusiast
In Duval's distinctive style, this is a rich, polished and highly spicy wine, with tart red plums, cherry, a sumac-spiced tang, white pepper, mocha and olive brine. The satiny mouthfeel is full but not overtly rich. Tannins take a firm supporting role, letting the plump fruit and spice take center stage. There's a touch of alcohol heat.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Delicious. The 2020 Plexus is resinous and charry on opening—the succulent fruit starts to flower with some additional time in the glass. The 2020 season was the second of drought conditions in the Barossa and was shaped by incredibly low yields. As it happens, many of the 2020s I have tasted have been excellent quality, as this is. Concentration 101.
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.