John Duval Annexus Grenache 2017
-
James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine &
Spirits
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Savory herb and spicy fruit aromatics opening to reveal bright red cherry and rose flower notes. The palate is fine boned in structure, with fresh raspberry and purity of red fruits, schisty minerality finishing with fine dusty tannins.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
This has attractively smooth and supple red-fruit aromas with pastry and some quite silky notes of red plums here, too. The depth is good. Agile and balanced.
-
Wine Enthusiast
This vintage of Annexus Grenache, like Duval's Mataro, feels denser and more inward than in previous years. The components are all there, but longer bottle age may be necessary. The nose leads with black cherry, strawberry and oatmeal oak characters, laced with cumin and Middle Eastern spices. In typical Duval style, the palate is highly textured, expertly balanced and supported by taut, spicy tannins. Have patience and this wine should reward in spades. Drink 2022–2029.
-
Wine & Spirits
Peppery and warm, this wine’s sunny strawberry-jam sweetness turns savory in the end, when it meets firm, spicy tannins and some mineral cut. It’s a gangly adolescent at the moment, but the structure should knit after a year or two in bottle. Then serve it with grilled game.
Other Vintages
2016-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator -
Wine
Enthusiast -
James
Suckling
John Duval is one of Australia's most highly regarded winemakers. Raised on a South Australian farm with three generations of grape growers before him, his vinous path was fated. However, it was during his 28-year tenure with Penfolds that his passion for the famed Barossa Valley flourished. As Chief Winemaker and custodian of Australia's most famous wine, Grange, he was instrumental in establishing Penfolds as one of the world's great wineries. His accolades include being named UK Wine and Spirit Competition's International Winemaker of the Year, Red Winemaker of the Year (twice) and receiving Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year award. In 2003, John embarked on his own label, John Duval Wines, inspired by the best of the Barossa Valley's low-yielding, old vine vineyards. With a deft touch he crafts intense wines that are as complex and distinctive as the diverse terroir of his treasured Barossa Valley.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
The Barossa Zone encompasses the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. Some of the oldest vines in Australia can be found here.
Barossa Valley of course is the most important and famous wine growing region in all of Australia where 140+ year-old, dry-farmed Shiraz vines still produce inky, purple and dense juice for some of Australia's best wines.
In the cooler, wetter Eden Valley sub-region, the Hill of Grace vineyard is home to famous Shiraz vines from the 1800s but the region produces also some of Australia’s very best and age-worthy Rieslings.