John Duval Wines Annexus Shiraz 2022

Tasting Note

Dark plum, chocolate, sage, and sandalwood lift from the glass, drawing you into a palate layered with bright mulberry, flowing dark fruits, and hints of ironstone. Silky, grainy tannins frame the fruit, carrying it through to a finish of impact and length.

Awards & Accolades

95 Points
Halliday Wine Companion 

In the 2022 vintage, the northern subregion of Moppa proved to be the source for John Duval's Annexus Shiraz. It reflects those northern roots with clarity and detail, with super-ripe satsuma plum and boysenberry fruits with shades of baking spice, ironstone, roasting meats, panforte, violets, dark chocolate and Moppa earth. Tannins like powdered sand lend a base and structure; there is a nice, slightly saline edge to the acid profile and an overall sense of balance and harmony as the wine slowly retreats. Super stuff.
- Dave Brookes

95 Points
The Real Review

Deep purple from core to rim. Mulberry, dark chocolate and dried lavender bush aromatics. Rich and intense fruit, full in weight but not overbearing, there’s ample ironstone and dark chocolate notes that balance the fruit weight. Tannins are firm but fine, guiding it with style to a long and finely wrought finish.
- Stuart Knox 

94 Points
The Vintage Journal

Medium-deep crimson. Fresh violet, black cherry, boysenberry, hint elderberry aromas with peppery aniseed notes. Inky deep with black cherry, parma violet, mocha espresso flavours, firm muscular tannins and bright juicy acidity.
- Andrew Caillard MW

94 Points
Decanter Magazine

This single-vineyard expression pulls a tight rein on feisty black-fruit Shiraz. The taut blackberry is like a big game fish that strikes hard and runs deep, driving through an extended mid-palate cloaked in dark tones. Hang on for the long ride – and then the black tannins take a bite and it all fades to black. This will look more impressive after a few calming years in the cellar. 
- David Sly 

93 Points
WineFront

Very purple tasting wine here; dark cherry, boysenberry, dark chocolate and biscuit spices, sage and new leather. It’s full-bodied but finds balance in a rich and salty dark fruited way; acidity is quite bright, tannin is silty and grainy, and while there’s a little warmth on the finish, it still pulls pretty long and offers some orange peel tang to close. Good wine. No shortage of flavour and impact.
- Gary Walsh