The 2017 Shiraz RWT, also known as the Bin 798, is all Barossa Valley Shiraz that’s always brought up in French oak, with 70% being new in 2017. It checks in behind the magical 2016, but nevertheless it’s still a beautiful Shiraz that offers everything you could want from this variety. Sporting a deep purple color as well as a beautiful perfume of crème de cassis, black raspberries, toasted bread, vanilla bean, white flowers, and plenty of spice, it’s full-bodied, elegant, and silky on the palate, and what it lacks in density and depth, it makes up for it with its incredible purity and elegance.
Reviews:
- Wine Advocate: Red raspberries abound on the nose of the 2017 RWT Shiraz, which as usual is all Barossa fruit aged in French oak (70% new). It’s full-bodied and velvety, with appealing notes of dried spices, beef and plenty of red fruit. There’s a cedary veneer to this vintage, which looks as if it will need a couple of years to come together, then drink well for up to two decades.
- Wine Spectator: Think of RWT as an alter ego to Penfolds’ flagship Grange bottling; Grange is a multiregion blend of old-vine Shiraz from around South Australia and aged in American oak, while RWT is an expression of a single region and aged in French oak. Here the purity of Barossa Shiraz is complemented by a creamy, rich texture. Named “Red Winemaking Trial” during its development in the mid-1990s, this wine is no longer an experiment, but the name stuck and RWT has become a classic in its own right. The winemaking is overseen by Penfolds veteran Peter Gago.
Producer Information
Penfolds RWT 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. 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 fine texture. The result is a wine that helps to redefine Barossa Shiraz at the highest quality level.
