Critic tasting note: "The nose is rather closed, but you can still detect sensational biscuit, mint, cumin and cinnamon notes. Fruit on the palate is dense and superripe—one reviewer calls it plum cake, another sees more blackberry and cherry. Finishes long with coconut, chocolate and toast . Its tannins feel smooth now, but this wine will reward long-term cellaring. Drink 2005–2015." - 93/100, Wine Enthusiast
Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz, first made in 1997, was released after several years of red winemaking trials from which the wine takes its name. In the Penfolds tradition of trial and innovation our winemakers embarked on a project in 1995 titled 'RWT' - meaning 'Red Winemaking Trial' - to create a new Australian Shiraz integrating the rich, generous flavours of Barossa Valley Shiraz with the finesse of tightly-grained French oak. The result is a fine wine of great elegance and depth of flavour. RWT is second only to Grange in the Penfolds Shiraz hierarchy, although the two wines are stylistically different. RWT expresses Shiraz more openly than Grange. This is partly a function of the grapes themselves and partly a result of maturation in French oak, rather than stronger, sweeter-flavoured American oak. RWT is opulent and voluptuous, and fleshy where Grange is muscular.
Vintage Notes
After a dry winter and cool conditions at fruit set, moderate conditions for ripening were temporarily disrupted by a hot spell in late January. Some excellent shiraz was harvested from the best-managed vineyards showing the Barossa's hallmark fruit sweetness and ripe tannin structure. The 2000 vintage will produce wines with fruit intensity and power, in a more forward style than normal.
Ageing: 12 months in 60% new and 40% one-year-old French Oak.
