The Wine Advocate | RP 98
Published: Jul 22, 2020

Sourced only from the Barossa Valley, RWT is aged exclusively in French oak, giving it two major points of difference from the rest of the Penfolds range. Always a sexy, voluptuous wine (and admittedly a personal favorite), the 2018 RWT Shiraz ratchets that up to new heights in a great Barossa vintage, boasting layers of berry-like fruit, refined vanilla shadings and baking-spice notes, plus more exotic elements like star anise and cocoa powder. It's full-bodied and plush without being unstructured in any way, with a lingering, complex finish and the concentration to age two decades or more.. 
Drink Date: 2022 - 2040

Jamessuckling.com | JS 96
Published: Sep 11, 2020

This has a very attractively fresh, showy feel to the nose with aromas of ripe red cherries, blackberries, goji berries and redcurrants, as well as red plums and some wild-herb and licorice notes on offer, too. Very expressive and fragrant. The palate has a super intense and powerful delivery of ripe red-cherry and plum flavors and immaculately fresh French oak (64% new) that really clasps and holds the finish long. The tannins are so ripe and well positioned. Drink over two decades.

Winemaker

RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz presents an admirable alternative to the multi-regional sourcing and American oak maturation that are hallmarks of Grange, expressing instead, single region Barossa Valley shiraz matured only in French oak. The initials RWT stand for ?Red Winemaking Trial?, the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995. Naturally, now no longer a Trial, RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage. Its style is opulent and fleshy, contrasting with Grange, which is more muscular and assertive. RWT is made from fruit primarily selected for its aromatic qualities and lush texture. The result is a wine that helps to redefine Barossa shiraz at the highest quality level.

GRAPE VARIETY: Shiraz

VINEYARD REGION: Barossa Valley

WINE ANALYSIS: Alc/Vol: 14.5%, Acidity: 6.9 g/L, pH: 3.58

MATURATION: 15 months in French oak hogsheads (70% new and 30% 1-y.o.)

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

Winter and spring rainfall were above the long-term average providing the vines with optimal soil moisture profiles. Most of the spring rain fell during September, with long-standing rainfall records broken. Windy conditions in October helped dry out the vineyards and ensured there were no significant frost events.

November was cool with only a couple of minor frosts.

The recorded temperatures over the growing season were generally cool, with only March above the long-term average, the second hottest recorded in 30 years. The prevailing cool conditions extended the growing season with flowering and veraison, both later than usual. Across the Barossa Valley, the shiraz berry and bunch weights were above average with optimal flavour and bright, vibrant colour.

PEAK DRINKING: Now - 2037

LAST TASTED: June 2019

COLOUR: Deep crimson/ferrous red

NOSE: Vibrant. Red earth / ?Barossa dirt? regional cues not hindered by a 15-month sojourn in French oak.

Initially, a lift of trademark tar/bitumen and subtle V.A. ... above scents of assorted carpaccio meats, steak tartare, green olive, capers, rosemary.

Upon sitting/swirling, patisserie scents of almond croissant, cinnamon bun ... and perhaps cr?me br?l?e glaze (oak-derived?). To repeat, very Barossa!

PALATE: A firm and binding structure, medium-bodied. Focussed/defined, yet still generous.

Mouth-watering acidity clutching opulent fruits renders an impressive pathway cleaved across front/middle/back palate ... a pathway all ably assisted by chalky tannins and absorbed integrated oak. Currently youthful and energetic, yet this vintage already impatiently awaits its secondary and tertiary maturation phases.