John Duval Wines 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 the 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. John’s approach to making Barossa Shiraz continues unchanged, and the 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.

Vintage: 2022

Grape Variety: Shiraz

Region: Barossa 

96 points
Andrew Caillard MW, Vintage Journal, August 2024 “Deep crimson. Lovely pure blackberry, dark chocolate aromas with espresso/marzipan notes. Deeply concentrated and classically structured with superb blackberry, praline flavours, slinky firm tannins and well integrated roasted coffee, marzipan notes. Finishes claret-like with a tang of acidity. Drink now–2036.”

96 points
David Sly, Decanter, April 2024 “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.”

95 points
Gabrielle Poy, The Real Review Jan 2024 “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 points
Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion Feb 2024 “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.”