Source: The Wine Advocate, Published: Oct 04, 2018 (RP-97)

The 2016 RWT Shiraz is Penfolds’s embodiment of Barossa Valley Shiraz. Aged in French oak (72% new), it offers hints of vanilla and cedar, but more than anything, it showcases the region’s bold berry and plum fruit. Full-bodied and rich, verging on decadent, yet firmly structured and long on the finish, it’s a powerful yet elegant wine that is capable of being consumed young or aging up to two decades. Having embarked on a career in the wine business right around the time the first RWT was released, it’s a treat to see how the latest version is showing. It’s a relative bargain among the Penfolds upper echelon.

Drink Date: 2020 – 2035

Source: jamessuckling.com. Issue Date: Thursday, June 27, 2019 (JS-96)

Barossa Valley shiraz meets French oak (72 per cent new) in a warmer vintage and delivers a wine that sits right in the pocket of elegance and richness combined. Aromas of redder fruit with raspberries and red plums, as well as black tea and a smoky, coal-dust edge. Boysenberries, too. This is complex. The palate has commanding length and depth with succulent, powerful yet fine and compressed tannins at its core. Both the length and balance are impressive. A great RWT! Try from 2022 and for at least two decades after that. Should peak after 2030.

Source: 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

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.