John Duval Eligo Shiraz

“Four generations of my family have been vignerons in South Australia. Over three decades in the Barossa I was given the opportunity to make Australia’s most famous wine” – John Duval

That wine was no other than the world famous Penfolds Grange. In 1986 Duval become chief winemaker at Penfolds and only the third person ever to oversee Australia’s most iconic wine. On John’s watch at Penfolds new wines were introduced that have now become true icons in the Penfolds portfolio like Bin 138 (Shiraz Grenache Mourvédre), Bin 407 (Cabernet Sauvignon) and Penfolds ‘RWT’ (Red Wine Trial) Shiraz, made entirely from old vine Barossa Shiraz using French oak.

For over 100 years the Duval family farm provided grapes to some of South Australia’s best winemakers. So with five generations of vineyard knowledge and a 30-year career at Penfolds, John was pretty well positioned to go solo with the launch of John Duval wines.

This is the John Duval Eligo Shiraz label from the 2021 vintage – Eligo comes from the Latin phrase ‘To pick out, select or choose the best’ – it’s a selection from the best parts of their very best shiraz vineyards. Eligo is John and Tim (his son) walking up and down rows, tasting berries, chewing skins, looking a cellar-worthy, world class expression of Shiraz…

97/100 (Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion)
“From the stellar ’21 vintage, the Eligo represents the best of the year and is a split of a range of amazing vineyard sites from the Barossa (62%) and Eden (38%) valleys. It’s concentrated and essence-like with deep, resonant blackberry, black cherry and Doris plum fruits with hints of clove, cinnamon, purple flowers, licorice, dark chocolate, cedar, olive tapenade, pan juices and earth. Thick shouldered but balanced and harmonious with melt-in-the-mouth, chocolatey tannins and exceptional length of flavour.”

96/100 (James Suckling)
“Densely packed dark fruit complemented by lifted aromas of mulberries, dark cherries, blood plums, coffee beans, violets, ferrous earth and spices. The palate is full-bodied with a seamless, velvety mouthfeel, fine tannins and plush, rounded flavors of blueberry compote, granite, pomegranates and cedar. Made from fruit with an average vine age of 80 years and mainly sourced from Adrian Hoffmann’s Ebenezer vineyard.”

96/100 & Top Rank Award (Stuart Knox, The Real Review)
“Deep and rich ruby colour. Mulberry, vanilla pod and ironstone aromas. Palate sings with a harmony of black fruits, iron and violets. Still primary in its offering but with time in the glass a bloody depth builds. All the while powerful, well-wrought tannins bring tension and focus to the power on show. Cellar it and reap the rewards.”

This is a seriously style of Shiraz that will be best enjoyed after five years from vintage and will cellar comfortably for 20 years plus.