The John Duval Entity Shiraz 2023 is a polished, medium to full-bodied Barossa Valley Shiraz built on old-vine fruit from the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley, blended 65% and 35% respectively. The 2023 season was the third in a row shaped by La Niña, with good soil moisture and cooler conditions pushing harvest late, and that shows as a wine with more perfume and lift than sheer Barossa weight.

Aromas run to blackberry, dark plum and boysenberry, with violets, licorice and a savoury edge of anise, sage and roasting meat sitting behind the fruit. The palate follows through with depth rather than heaviness — dark berry and black cherry flavours carry a fine seam of pepper and dark chocolate, and there's a graphite-like mineral thread underneath.

Entity Shiraz spent 15 months in French oak, a quarter of it new hogsheads, and the cedar and spice from that maturation is measured rather than dominant. Tannins are fine and sandy, the acidity is bright for the region, and the finish is long, earthy and clean.

Decant this Barossa Shiraz for half an hour and enjoy with grilled rib eye, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, peppered kangaroo fillet or a wedge of aged cheddar.

Drinking well from now, the 2023 has the structure to cellar for 15 years or more in good conditions.