Our affinity for working with old vine Barossa Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvédre began with John’s time at Penfolds, and continues with this wine - the first to be released by John Duval Wines’ from our inaugural vintage in 2003. The aim of Plexus is to express a wide spectrum of fruit flavours, whilst ensuring seamless integration of the contrasting characters of the three varietals. Shiraz provides rich dark fruits and mid palate weight, whilst Grenache delivers a bright flavour spectrum of red fruits and spiced notes. Old vine Mourvèdre is integral to the blend, ensuring a good firm backbone of savoury tannin and a long finish.

Following the pattern of recent years, the preceding winter rainfalls were aboveaverage followed by slightly drier conditions through spring. Warmer than average conditions through October and November promoted healthy canopies, good flowering and a healthy set of bunches. Very dry conditions through summer challenged growers to maintain good vineyard health, and they were rewarded with perfect ripening and harvest conditions throughout March and early April. We believe 2018 will produce many exceptional wines, displaying vibrant fruit and lifted aromatics combined with depth and intensity on the palate, without being heavy. The Shiraz component was sourced from old vineyards at Krondorf, Marananga and Ebenezer, with a parcel from Eden Valley included for its vibrant aromatics and flavour. Grenache was sourced from vineyards at Tanunda and Ebenezer, and Mourvèdre from Light Pass and Ebenezer. The parcels of fruit were fermented separately with a submerged cap in small open stainless-steel fermenters. A portion of the Grenache ferment included whole bunches to accentuate the savoury aspects of the variety. The wines were barrel maturated for 15 months, with 10% in new fine grain French oak hogsheads and the balance in older seasoned hogsheads. The final blend assemblage comprised

Shiraz (49%), Grenache (34%) and Mourvèdre (17%).