2003 Sequel Syrah

2003 SEQUEL - 92 POINTS "Supple, refined style offers layers of cherry, blueberry and hints of pomegranates as the flavors sail on and on. Not a big, hulking Syrah but one of elegance and appealing depth. Best from 2007 through 2011."

 

2003 SEQUEL - 91 POINTS "John Duval blends this forward, Aussie-style Syrah from Yakima, Horse Heaven and Red Mountain vineyards. Rich and ripe with smoky blackberry flavors."

 

2003 SEQUEL - 91 POINTS "Here is a wine that proves that real richness need not necessarily come at the cost of exaggerated ripeness and that young Syrah can be at once both weighty and well-polished. From its deep, keenly focused and complex blackberry, pepper and coffee aromas through to its like-minded and lingering flavors, the wine is rich and involving with fine-grained tannins providing just the right note of structural grip."

 

2003 SEQUEL – 5 STAR RATING "A brilliant debut from John Duval and Gilles Nicault; medium bodied yet oaky, concentrated and sumptuous yet balanced. Up to 2015."

 

2003 SEQUEL - 92 POINTS "Aged in 75% French and 25% American oak, the 2003 Syrah displays a nose of cassis, black raspberry liqueur, and spicy American oak. Jam-packed with black raspberries and blackberries, this medium to full-bodied wine explodes on the palate, displaying copious fruit, gorgeous purity of flavors, and an admirably long finish. Drink it over the next 8-9 years.

The Columbia Valley is a diverse growing region so by working with a varied selection of top Syrah vineyards, Sequel takes on added complexity. Yakima Valley’s Boushey Vineyard (29%) gives the wine its elegance, density and complexity; The Benches (formerly known as Wallula Vineyard) (26%) in the Horse Heaven Hills combines with Red Mountain vineyards (24%) to add black fruit and suppleness.

 
Few winemakers are as synonymous with the iconic wines of a country as John Duval, best known for his work with Penfolds Grange, the gold standard for Australian Shiraz.
 
John joined Penfolds winery in 1974 after completing his studies in agriculture and winemaking. In 1986 John was appointed Chief Winemaker, following the winemaking greats Max Schubert and Don Ditter.

The Duval Family had for many years run a world famous Suffolk sheep stud and also ran quality vineyards, at Morphett Vale south of Adelaide, coincidently supplying Shiraz grapes and vine cuttings to Penfolds.

During his time as Chief Winemaker, John oversaw a dynamic period of development. The many awards and accolades for its wines helped establish Penfolds as one of the world's great wine brands.

While his honors and awards are too numerous to list, some of the highlights include the Robert Mondavi Trophy for Winemaker of the Year in 1989 at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London; two-time recipient of the Red Winemaker of the Year award at the International Wine Challenge in London, first in 1991 and then again in 2000; and Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year” award in 1995 for the 1990 vintage of Penfolds Grange.
 
After 28 years, John stepped down from the company in 2002 to establish John Duval Wines, debuting with the 2003 vintage of Plexus SGM. John now makes four wines under his John Duval Wines label, a white; 'Plexus White' (Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier), and three reds; 'Plexus Red' (Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre), 'Entity' (Shiraz) and 'Eligo' (Shiraz).

In addition to making his own wine, John also has a joint venture project with Ventisquero in the Apalta Valley, Chile and in 2003 John traveled to the Columbia Valley at the invitation of Long Shadows Vintners' founder Allen Shoup to make his first U.S. wine, Sequel, a name chose in recognition of his life's work with Syrah.
 
Never one to be far from great Shiraz, he currently resides in the Barossa Valley, home to some of Australia’s oldest vines.

2015 2007 2003