About this Wine:My aim with Plexus is to express the wide spectrum of red fruit flavours from Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre, but also provide structure with a seamless balance and long finish. A low percentage of new oak, adds complexity rather than dominate the berry fruit. Traditional, low intervention winemaking techniques are employed with Plexus, allowing the wine to be approachable in it's youth, but also have great potential for improvement in the bottle under good cellaring conditions for at least 8-10 years.
Region: Barossa Valley
Varieties: Shiraz 51%, Grenache 28%, Mourvedre 21%
Shiraz was sourced from vineyards in the Stockwell, Light Pass, Krondorf and Marananga regions.
Grenache from old bush vines 50-60 years old from Stockwell, Light Pass and Krondorf regions.
Mourvedre from old bush vines, the oldest over 100 years old, from the Light Pass and Krondorf regions.
Winemaking: Fermentation with submerged cap in both traditional old open top tanks and small stainless steel fermenters
Oak Maturation: 100% barrel matured for 16 months. Some Shiraz finished fermentation in new oak. 10% new fine grain French oak hogsheads (300 litres), balance; 3 years and older mostly French oak.
Tasting:
Colour: Vibrant, deep crimson red-purple
Nose: Combination of lifted aromatic red fruits with a touch of savoury spice, and subtle complexing oak
Palate: Youthful aromatic red and black fruits combine well with an array of spices. Shiraz and Mourvedre provide good backbone tannins and structure, which is balanced by the aromatics and softness of Grenache. Good depth of flavour, without being heavy or over-ripe.
Ratings & Reviews
92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2007 Plexus Grenache (28%)-Shiraz (51%)-Mourvedre (21%) was aged for 16 months in predominantly seasoned French oak. It is dark ruby-colored with a perfumed nose of cedar, tobacco, lavender, kirsch, and black cherry. Velvety-textured, rich, and concentrated, it is packed with flavor, is impeccably balanced, and will drink well for a decade." - Jay Miller (Dec 2009)
92 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"Deep ruby-red. Fresh raspberry and cherry aromas display a striking southern Rhone-like character, with complicating notes of dried flowers, spicecake and minerals. Juicy and smooth, with sweet red berry flavors and gentle tannins. The finish is brisk, gently sweet and long. No way I'd have guessed that this came from a drought year. Ninety percent of this wine was raised in five- or six-year-old French hogsheads, the rest in new casks." - Josh Raynolds (Jul/Aug '09)
92 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"Deep
ruby-red. Fresh raspberry and cherry aromas display a striking southern
Rhone-like character, with complicating notes of dried flowers,
spicecake and minerals. Juicy and smooth, with sweet red berry flavors
and gentle tannins. The finish is brisk, gently sweet and long. No way
I'd have guessed that this came from a drought year. Ninety percent of
this wine was raised in five- or six-year-old French hogsheads, the rest
in new casks." - Josh Raynolds (Jul/Aug '09)
91 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Creamy in texture, this is ripe with cherry, pomegranate, ash and black pepper flavors, persisting nicely on the long, expressive finish. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2014. 1,000 cases imported." –HS (Sep 30, 2009)
91 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"Starts off with mulberry, cola, vanilla and clove, and persists that way across the creamy-textured palate. A textbook Aussie blend, marrying immediate approachability with 5–8 years of ageability. Another fine effort from former Penfolds winemaker John Duval." —J.C. (6/26/2010)
