John Duval Eligo Shiraz 2018
- 99
- $130
- Drink by: 2022-2042
Share
Around 70% Eden Valley fruit and 30% Barossa, sourced from the sub-regions of Ebenezer and Moppa, the various parcels of grapes received discrete fermentation in small stainless steel fermenters, submerged caps, with twice daily pumpovers. A portion of the fruit was left on skins for two weeks for colour and structure. The wine then spent 18 months in fine grained French oak hogsheads (55% new, the remainder older).
Inky black in colour, the nose is intense but rather gorgeous. Spices, blueberries, chocolate, leather, some oak but it is integrating superbly, fresh herbs and cocoa powder. Serious concentration here with a supple, seamless palate. Vibrantly fresh, balanced, lovely length with a soft, gentle finish and the silkiest of tannins. The palate also sees notes of beef stock and soy. Immaculate balance here, glorious flavours. There is absolutely no reason this won’t improve for 15 to 20 years, but it is already drinking magnificently. I think that this is the best wine I have seen under the Duval label.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
