John Duval Entity Shiraz (75cl, 14.5%)

John Duval Entity Shiraz is a 100% Barossa Shiraz at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle, produced by John Duval Wines. John Duval served as chief winemaker at Penfolds from 1986 to 2002, overseeing 16 consecutive vintages of Grange, and created Penfolds RWT before launching his own label. Entity is made from old vine Barossa Shiraz, fermented separately in small stainless steel fermenters using submerged caps and twice-daily pump overs, then matured for 15 months in French oak, 28–35% new fine-grain hogsheads with the balance in older French and American oak. The nose shows dark cherries, plums, blueberries, lifted spices, tobacco leaf, cedar, anise and clove. The palate is full-bodied with mulberry, blackberry, black plum, dark chocolate, coffee bean and peppery spice, framed by finely grained tannins. The finish is long, with silky tannins, bay leaf, dark chocolate and ripe plum.