James Halliday 97 Points | The Ex-Grange Winemaker's Finest Entity — In Magnum

The 2018 John Duval Entity Shiraz 1.5 Litre is a wine of extraordinary polish and completeness — 97 points from James Halliday, in magnum format, from one of the greatest Barossa vintages of the decade. Entity is always a fabulous wine. The 2018, in magnum, with seven years of bottle age, is something else entirely.

My Wine Man on John Duval

For 16 years, John Duval was the chief winemaker of Penfolds — the custodian of Grange, Australia's most iconic wine. When he left to establish his own label in 2003, the wine world paid close attention. Entity is his flagship Shiraz: cherry-picked fruit from old-vine vineyards across the Eden Valley and Barossa Valley sub-regions, blended with the skill and precision of a man who spent nearly two decades making Australia's most scrutinised wine. The 2018 vintage — widely regarded as one of the finest Barossa vintages of the 21st century — gave John Duval the raw material to produce something exceptional. The 97-point score confirms it.

Tasting Notes

So polished, there's a sheen. Flavours of black fruits, liquorice, and woodsy spices all in perfect sync, with beautifully shaped and plush tannins that are the key to the wine's extraordinary balance and length. Nothing out of place. Cherry-picked fruit from old-vine sites across the Eden and Barossa Valleys, unified by John Duval's unerring instinct for what great Barossa Shiraz should taste like. A wonderful wine. 97pts James Halliday.

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied with plush, polished tannins and exceptional length. In magnum, the 2018 Entity is developing more slowly and more gracefully than its standard-bottle counterpart. Decant for two hours. Drinking magnificently now and will continue to develop through 2038 and beyond. A serious cellaring proposition and a spectacular gift.

Food Pairing

A polished 97-point magnum from one of the greatest Barossa vintages deserves the finest Wagyu. We love it with Sher Wagyu Ribeye M5 Steak from My Meat Man — char-grilled rare with bone-marrow butter, the buttery marbling and Wagyu depth are a magnificent match for Entity's polished black fruits, woodsy spice and plush, polished tannins. A pairing for a long, celebratory table.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$888, the John Duval Entity Shiraz magnum delivers 97-point Barossa Shiraz in 1.5 litres, from the ex-Penfolds Grange winemaker, in one of the greatest Barossa vintages of the decade. Magnums of this calibre and score rarely reach the market at this price. For collectors and serious wine lovers, this is an exceptional acquisition.

Looking for a Different Style?

• 2016 John Duval Entity Shiraz 1.5 Litre — peer 97pt vintage / nine years of bottle age
• 2015 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz — 97pt Halliday / iconic basket-pressed Barossa Shiraz
• 2010 Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz — 97pt Halliday / McLaren Vale icon / fifteen years of bottle age