2015 Sequel Syrah

2015 SEQUEL - 95 POINTS

"Incorporating 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Sequel wasn't destemmed and spent 18 months in 65% new French oak. Its inky purple color is followed by a huge nose of blackberry liqueur, espresso roast, scorched earth, and dark chocolate. A full-bodied, beautiful Syrah that has remarkable freshness and purity, fine tannin, and a great, great finish. It's always a pedal-to-the-metal effort, yet the 2015 stays beautifully fresh and lively on the palate. This is certainly one of the finest vintages to date."

2015 SEQUEL - 93 POINTS

"Aromas of blackberries, blueberries and black licorice follow through to the medium to full body. Firm and silky tannins and a checked, fine finish. Drink and enjoy."

2015 SEQUEL - 92 POINTS

"The 2015 Sequel unfurls in the glass with notes of sweet cassis and black fruit that mingle with notions of rich grilled meats and toasty oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and powerful, with a sweet core of fruit and a chewy chassis of fine-grained tannins that are going to require a few years' bottle age." 

2015 was a very warm vintage, so winemaker John Duval crafted half this blend from the Yakima Valley, one of Washington's cooler AVAs, relying on Boushey (32%) and Den Hoed (18%) vineyards to give the wine its bright, lively character and refined elegance. Bacchus Vineyard Syrah, grown on a south-facing block planeted in 1993, adds dark color and richness. A Shiraz clone from Sonnet Vineyard at the Benches, along with a small amount of Candy Mountain Vineyard Syrah, contributes power and concentration. Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine its backbone.

 
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.