JOHN DUVAL ENTITY SHIRAZ 2022

John Duval began working with old vine Barossa Shiraz when he commenced his winemaking career at Penfolds in the early 1970’s. Through the 1990’s he played a leading role in trialling maturation of old vine Barossa Shiraz in new French oak hogsheads, contrary to the established winery convention of blending Shiraz from multiple regions and maturation in American oak. The early trials led to the first release of the Penfold’s RWT Barossa Shiraz from the 1997 vintage – a wine that marked a step change moment in the style evolution of Barossa Shiraz. The approach to making Barossa Shiraz continues unchanged, and maturation of selected parcels of old vine fruit in French oak is fundamental to producing Entity – an elegant Shiraz that is true to the Barossa.

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"A standout season.The parcels of fruit were fermented separately in small stainless steel fermenters some with submerged caps, and twice daily pump overs. Post ferment, the component wines were matured in oak for 15 months, with 25% in new fine grain French oak hogsheads (300L) and the balance in older French hogsheads and puncheons. We intend for the wine to be approachable in its youth, but with ample structure and fruit depth to allow cellaring, under good conditions, for at least 15 years.

Lifted aromas of dark berries, plum and boysenberry, supported by hints of anise and clove. Dark and brooding on the palate, with excellent concentration of layered rich dark fruits with hints of dark chocolate and earth finishing long with youthful tannins."

96/100 David Sly, Decanter UK, April 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"Velvety opulence speaks from the moment this hits your tongue until the last drop disappears. It’s a luxurious take on the grandeur of fit, medium-bodied Shiraz, putting plush red berry characteristics on a pedestal, encasing them gently in oak and fine-gain tannin, then allowing them to saunter gracefully down the long catwalk before sashaying out the exit curtain. Bravo! Further ageing will only enhance its beauty."

5 Stars & 95/100 Gabrielle Poy, The Real Review, January 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"Intense notes of vanilla and spiced black plums hit you initially, and then subtle top notes of wild roses emerge. red berries take the lead on the palate along with sweet spices and a spine of bitter chocolate tannins. This is an impressive Barossan, it's ripe and full-bodied with plenty of freshness and channels of nuance to keep you engaged."

95/100 Dave Brookes, James Halliday's Wine Companion, February 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"Shiraz sourced from vineyards in Krondorf, Tanunda, Marananga, Moppa and Eden Valley (BV 85%, EV 15%), matured in French oak, 28% new, for 15 months. A vibrantly coloured multi-subregional blend that shows plum, black cherry and blackberry fruits cut with hints of baking spice, cedar, vanillin, mace, licorice and earth. A thickly shouldered wine, plush with ripe fruit and creamy oaken nuance finishing long and elemental with fine, chalky tannins and a sense of mineral definition."

94/100 Erin Larkin, RobertParker.com, Wine Advocate, June 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"The 2022 Entity Shiraz is 85% Barossa Valley and 15% Eden Valley. The palate is, as this producer is so consistently capable of, supple and polished, with brilliant fruit clarity and poise. The framing of the 2022 vintage works in the favour of this wine; it is more bulbous and rounded than the 2021 tasted beside it, but I like it; it balances the heady fruit and brings pleasure and chew and bounce to the wine. Excellent."

94/100 Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, February 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"Textbook Barossa Shiraz. It’s spicy, blue and black fruit, cherry, aniseed, a little tar and mint. Medium to full-bodied, acidity is crisp and lively, baked raspberry with some chocolate cake, a fine sooty grip to tannin, a little dried herb and reduction to close on a finish of good length. Yes yes. Nice nice. Expressive and bright Barossa Shiraz."