John Duval Eligo Shiraz 2021 750ml

Flagship Barossa Shiraz with black fruit, anise, clove, florals and long chocolatey tannins.

About The Wine

John Duval Eligo Shiraz 2021 is the flagship Shiraz from John Duval, created from a meticulous selection of exceptional Barossa and Eden Valley fruit. The name Eligo means “to pick out” or “select the best,” and the wine reflects that idea with depth, structure, perfume and serious length. The 2021 vintage was outstanding across the Barossa, producing a wine with powerful dark fruit, lifted spice, fine oak integration and a commanding yet polished palate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Black fruit, anise, clove, florals, blackberry, dark plum and liquorice.

Palate: Richly textured and deeply layered, with tightly packed dark fruit, ironstone, liquorice and excellent concentration.

Finish: Long, powerful and refined, with integrated chocolatey tannins and exceptional persistence.

Halliday Wine Companion - 97 Points

From the stellar '21 vintage, the Eligo represents the best of the year and is a split of a range of amazing vineyard sites from the Barossa (62%) and Eden (38%) valleys. It's concentrated and essence-like with deep, resonant blackberry, black cherry and Doris plum fruits with hints of clove, cinnamon, purple flowers, licorice, dark chocolate, cedar, olive tapenade, pan juices and earth. Thick shouldered but balanced and harmonious with melt-in-the-mouth, chocolatey tannins and exceptional length of flavour. Dave Brookes

The Vintage Journal - 98 Points

From one of the region’s greatest vintages for many years, the team describe this wine as representing the very best of that vintage. That raises the bar. The fruit came from the Barossa Valley, 62%, and the Eden Valley, 38%. Maturation was for a year and a half, 42% in new French oak hogsheads, with the balance in a mix of older hogsheads and puncheons. Under cork. The colour is dark cherry/magenta. On the nose we have notes of warm earth, blackberries, smoked meats, liquorice, black cherries and coffee grinds. A touch of toasty oak, but the wine has good concentration and immaculate balance with serious length. This is so seductive. A great year has given us a stunning Barossa Valley Shiraz. Enjoy this wonderful wine over the next 20 years. Drink now to 2045.

The Real Review - 96 Points

 Deep and rich ruby colour. Mulberry, vanilla pod and ironstone aromas. Palate sings with a harmony of black fruits, iron and violets. Still primary in its offering but with time in the glass a bloody depth builds. All the while powerful, well-wrought tannins bring tension and focus to the power on show. Cellar it and reap the rewards. Stuart Knox

Serving Suggestions

A superb match for slow roasted lamb shoulder, grilled ribeye, beef short ribs, venison, mushroom risotto or aged hard cheeses. Decanting is recommended if drinking young.

About the Winery / Producer / Region

John Duval is one of Australia’s most respected winemakers, best known for his long career in the Barossa before establishing John Duval Wines in 2003. His wines focus on balance, site expression and elegance, with Eligo sitting at the top of the range as the finest Shiraz selection of the vintage.

The 2021 Eligo draws on fruit from both Barossa Valley and Eden Valley, combining Barossa depth, structure and richness with Eden Valley’s lifted aromatics, spice and natural acidity. Fruit was sourced from old vineyard sites across Krondorf, Ebenezer, Moppa, Moculta and Mt McKenzie, giving the wine complexity, power and regional breadth.

Cellaring Potential

A serious cellar worthy Shiraz. While seductive and richly fruited now, it will benefit from at least five years in bottle and should age gracefully for 20 years or more under good cellaring conditions.

Details

Producer: John Duval Wines

Vintage: 2021

Variety: Shiraz

Blend: 62% Barossa Valley Shiraz, 38% Eden Valley Shiraz

Region: Barossa Valley & Eden Valley, South Australia

Alcohol: 14.5%

Maturation: 18 months in French oak, including 42% new fine-grain French oak hogsheads

Closure: Cork

Bottle Size: 750ml