John Duval Shiraz Barossa Valley Eligo 2016

98 points James Halliday (Wine Companion): "Eligo is made from the best parcels of the vintage, fermented with submerged caps in small open fermenters, matured for 20 months in French hogsheads (50% new). The tannins and oak are built into the wine like an inlaid checkerboard table created by a master craftsman with decades of experience. Like John Duval. Drink 2024-2056. (07/11/21)."

95 points Josh Raynolds (Vinous): "Deep, violet color. Expansive, spice-accented blackberry, cherry-vanilla, licorice and exotic spice qualities on the nose. Fleshy and appealingly sweet, offering concentrated red and dark fruit preserve flavors that pick up cola, star anise and mocha notes as the wine opens up. Becomes livelier with aeration and finishes on a repeating berry notes note with well-knit tannins and impressive length. Drink 2025-2035. (10/20)."

95 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "Eligo is Duval's selection of his best Shiraz, and it isn't bottled every year. The 2016 Eligo Shiraz is the 10th release since the debut vintage in 2005 (2007 and 2011 were skipped). As always, it's a big, bold, oaky wine, but one that possesses the fruit and concentration to age for a decade or more. Vanilla, cedar and roasted-meat notes accent blackberry and cassis, the full-bodied palate is richly textural and velvety, while the finish lingers close to a minute. Drink 2025-2035. (07/31/20)."

93 points Wine Spectator: "Dark, offering a dense, espresso-infused mix of cassis, blackberry and spicy cedar notes, showing details of black walnut, mahogany and tobacco on a plush, fleshy frame. Displays plenty of torque and focus on the finish. Drink now through 2029. 100 cases imported. (11/30/19)."