Behind every great winemaker is a great winemaker's wife. Robert recounts how he finally gave in to Mrs Duval's pleas and created his first white wine. An artisan may spend decades refining his skills but a woman's intuition rules. Duval's Rhone styled cepage of Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier has been a runaway success. Duval's aim with Plexus MRV is to promote a vibrant expression of fruit aromas from the interaction of the three varieties, to build structure and texture on the palate, rather than the blend's familiar acid crispness.

Two thirds of Plexus MRV is Marsanne grown to splendid vineyards in Marananga and Seppeltfield. A quarter of Roussanne is sourced from Kalimna and the balance of Viognier from Eden Valley. Gentle pressings of the fruit are combined with free run juices and cold settled. Vinification is initiated in fermenters, portions of Marsanne and Viognier complete their course in barrel where they remain until August. The remaining batches of Marsanne and Roussanne are aged on lees to enhance structure and infuse textures into the completed wine. A total of half the components are matured in a selection of mostly seasoned, fine grain French oak barrels for six months.