2017 John Duval Annexus Mataro Barossa Valley Australia

Mataro, Monastrell, Mourvèdre, or whatever name of the 95 synonyms it has, is definitely a grape that should be on your tasting list!

Originally from Spain, this variety has been beautifully adapted in numerous wine regions around the world. In Australia, the Mataro was adapted and perfected thanks to the climate that this country has. Mataro requires warm conditions for its perfect development. Today, this is one of the most emblematic varieties of this country.

John Duval's wines have managed to transcend the entire world and seduce the most demanding palates.John Duval delivers delicate, modern and unpretentious wines that are so beautifully attached to the Barossa Valley terroir and will immediately transport you to the land of kangaroos!

John Duval is one of Australia's most renowned winemakers and with more than 35 years of experience in the industry, he is an "Australian Wine Legend" as Robert Parker named him in 2010.

The last name Duval has a long history in the world of wine in Australia.For more than 100 years, the family vineyards supplied grapes to the best winemakers in South Australia.

John Duval Wines vineyards date from the second half of the 19th century and are built on more than 30 years of experience in Australian winemaking and more than 5 generations of experts in the field and wine. John Duval was the visionary from the family who transitioned from only selling grapes to making his own wines.

John Duval studied at the University of Adelaide in 1973 and by the 1974 vintage, he began working at the acclaimed Penfolds winery. At Penfolds, John Duval apprenticed to Don Ditter and Max Schubert, creators of Australia's most famous and iconic wine called “Grange”. Duval displayed his winemaking skills and became the third winemaker in 1986.

John played a very important role in the positioning and worldwide recognition of the Penfolds winery.During his more than 29 years at Penfolds, Duval became a world-renowned star winemaker, some of 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 Duval began producing his own wine, the first label he released was “Plexus”. In “Plexus”, the Shiraz and Garnacha predominate, and they’re perfectly complemented with the Mourvèdre, they are highly fruity, complex wines with great balance and persistence.

John Duval discovered the treasures of the Barossa Valley terroir and became a complete lover of the old vines of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Duval's hallmark are complex and elegant wines with great aging potential and expressing the best of the Barossa Valley terroir!

John Duval is not only a Wine Rockstar in Australia, but he is also involved with Viña Ventisquero in the Apalta Valley in Chile, where he is the consulting winemaker. And in the USA, where he is a partner at the Longshadows winery in Washington.

2017 John Duval Mataro Grenache Barossa Valley Australia comes from the selection of the best centennial vines of Mataro from Barossa Valley. This wine is full of fruitiness, extraordinary acidity and subtle tannins.

Aging: 15 months in 100% French Oak Barrels

100% Mataro. Vibrant purple-red. Savory and spicy fruit aromas, with lifted red cherry and anise, notes of earth, and leather. Medium-bodied, bright acidity and poised tannins round out the sleek-textured. Pair this wine with red meat cooked on the grill, in a stew, with lamb, rabbit, and game.

This small batch Mourvèdre from renowned Barossa winemaker John Duval is more austere than the previous vintage. It requires plenty of swirling in glass before unveiling its true characters, namely cherry, red currant, licorice, spice and stony earthy undertones. Duval's winemaking signature is all over the palate. A powerful grip of textured tannins support red fruit, spice and earth. Drink this now with protein and until 2029 ~90 Points, Wine Enthusiast