5x 94-95pts⚡️$29! Penfolds Grange 29-Yr Maker's "BRILLIANT" Shiraz & GSM

Wednesday, August 7th, 2024

Dear Artisans,

John Duval was Penfolds' Winemaker for 29 years in total, with the latter 16 years as their 3rd Chief Winemaker to ever make Grange and RWT.

The wines on offer today are his 100% Shiraz ENTITY and GSM PLEXUS:

both rated-a-plenty 94-95 points
both sold to you at the lowest price in the country!

John Duval "Entity" Shiraz

Barossa Valley 2021

95 Points - James Halliday:

"Vibrant and pure at heart with deep black plum, black cherry and boysenberry fruits, plentiful exotic spice, violets, licorice and wafts of light cedar and vanillin oak. Impressive fruit depth, sandy tannin support and long, plush finish of spicy black fruits and earth." (May 2023)

94 Points - Vinous:

"This 2021 Shiraz Entity is beautifully composed and sleek, with an engaging energy and brightness of fruit. There is outstanding detail in the form of white pepper, cloves, cocoa and woodsmoke aromas with excellent oak integration. Superb flavor precision follows with layers of blackberry and chocolate and a gentle violet lift underpinned by a core of fine yet firm tannins driving through to a long, soaring finish, The 2021 is an exceptional and brilliant value."

94 Points - James Suckling:

"A big and rich wine but it shows freshness and energy underneath the juicy and rather thick fruit with plush tannins. Some chewiness, too. Needs two or three years to soften. Drink or hold." (10/22)

94 Points - Wine Spectator:

"Aromatic and complex, with a plush, velvety quality to the blackberry, spiced plum and violet details. Reveals huckleberry, black cherry and bittersweet chocolate accents on the long, expressive finish, where details of fresh laurel bay leaf and Earl Grey tea linger." - MW

94 Points - Decanter:

"Powerful, showing intense aromas of espresso, mocha, fruitcake and juicy black fruits. Dense and plush, opulent and generous."

Lowest price in the country
33 bottles left

Elsewhere ~~$44.00~~

Online Avg ~~$35.00~~

Ours $29.99

Order Link

duvalPlexusgms10-w-2_0ba18fed-150e-4522-8cf7-96f517d6d498_1800x1800 image

John Duval "Plexus" GSM

Barossa Valley 2020

94 Points - James Halliday:

“An impressive 49/35/16% shiraz/grenache/mourvedre (from a 'who's who' of the best subregions in the Barossa Valley) made by ex-Grange winemaker, John Duval. Gorgeously perfumed with red cherry, raspberry and mulberry fruits flecked with floral notes of violets and jasmine with hints of ginger cake, red licorice, earth, cola and crushed stone. There is a lively acid cadence, superfine powdery tannins and an array of gingery spice and red fruit that fans out nicely on the finish. A bargain.”

94 Points - Wine Spectator:

"Complex, rich and elegant, showing notes of espresso, Kalamata olive, salted black licorice and spiced plum on a plush frame, with hints of dark chocolate. Reveals black walnut liqueur, wild blackberry and huckleberry flavors that linger on the long, peppery finish. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2035. 2,000 cases imported." - MW

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:

In Duval's distinctive style, this is a rich, polished and highly spicy wine, with tart red plums, cherry, a sumac-spiced tang, white pepper, mocha and olive brine. The satiny mouthfeel is full but not overtly rich. Tannins take a firm supporting role, letting the plump fruit and spice take center stage. There's a touch of alcohol heat.”

Lowest price in the country
41 bottles left

Elsewhere ~~$49.00~~

Ours $35.99

Order Link

Here's what Vinous Media had to say earlier this year:

"John Duval is one of the most respected winemakers in Barossa, having honed his skills at Penfolds and as the custodian of Penfolds Grange between 1986 and 2002, including vintages that put Grange on the international map. John Duval Wines’ first releases came from the 2003 vintage and built an enviable reputation over the last two decades for a small range of high-quality wines. John and son Tim Duval, who joined in 2016, work closely with a number of handpicked growers across both the Barossa and Eden Valleys, manicuring a beautifully refined Barossa style that strongly reflects the vagaries of the vintage and variety, including Mourvèdre and Grenache as well as other red and white Rhône varietals. John Duval wines are some of the most dependable in Barossa, with the leading bottlings also some of the region’s finest."

Further background:

Few winemakers are as synonymous with the iconic wines of a country as John Duval, best known for his work with Penfolds Grange, the gold standard for Australian Shiraz.

John joined Penfolds winery in 1974 after completing his studies in agriculture and winemaking. In 1986 John was appointed Chief Winemaker, following the winemaking greats Max Schubert and Don Ditter.

The Duval Family had for many years run a world famous Suffolk sheep stud and also ran quality vineyards at Morphett Vale south of Adelaide, coincidentally supplying Shiraz grapes and vine cuttings to Penfolds.

During his time as Chief Winemaker, John oversaw a dynamic period of development. The many awards and accolades for its wines helped establish Penfolds as one of the world's great wine brands.

While his honors and awards are too numerous to list, some of the highlights include:

The Robert Mondavi Trophy for Winemaker of the Year in 1989 at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London
Two-time recipient of the Red Winemaker of the Year award at the International Wine Challenge in London, first in 1991 and then again in 2000
Wine Spectator's "Wine of the Year" award in 1995 for the 1990 vintage of Penfolds Grange

Both of these exceptional wines are in stock for now but are sure to sell out by next week. We also list our other best Rhone+Zin varietal wines of the year below, while still available!

Cheers,

—James Tran

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