Australia is of course best known for making Shiraz, or Syrah as it is known in its traditional home in the Rhone Valley in France. The Ozzies have now also borrowed a few white grapes from the Rhone too. Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, which typically go into making white Chateauneuf du Pape, are proving very successfully on the other side of the world as well.
Prior to starting his own label in 2003, John Duval spent most of his career with Penfolds, as their Chief wine-maker since 1986. As well as producing their everyday wines, he was responsible for keeping Grange on its pedestal as one of the most famous wines of the new world.
The Plexus MRV is a terrific example of restrained wine making. 50 percent of the wine, including Marsanne and Viognier but not Roussane, finishes its fermentation and ages for 7 months in French Oak (7% new oak). This measured use allows the juice to develop incredible depth of flavour and structure not normally attributed to white wine. It has vibrant aromas of stone fruit and citrus lifting from the glass. The Marsanne and Roussane contribute flavours of pear and citrus while the Viognier adds an exotic edge of mandarins and spice, reminiscent of ginger, allspice and fennel.
We drank this wine with a spring vegetable risotto, a pairing that turned out very well. Each component helped express the other, and it was one of those rare occasions where the combination results in an experience greater than the total of its parts.
Felix Milner
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