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94
/ 100
Campbell Mattinson
Red
Classification
Shiraz
Variety
2018
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
South Australia, Barossa Valley
Region
14.5%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
94 / 100"Barossa Valley shiraz. French oak. 64% of the oak is new though all of it is a year old at most. This is also titled Bin 798. I’d imagine that this is French oak as coopered in Australia, rather than the absolute real deal, though I’m happy to stand corrected. It’s warm, plush, ripped with aniseed and sweet, dry herbs, both toasty and resiny, and creamy-smooth to the touch. It’s powered essentially by rich ripe plum and saltbush flavours though soy, sweet spice and peppercorn notes find voice too. RWT always delivers a lot of fruit and oak flavour and it does again here (emphasis on the latter), but there’s something about the formation of tannin that just doesn’t make me swoon. The tannin here is well balanced and integrated but it’s not A-class framing; the best tannin reaches back and pulls the palate with it, whereas here it feels too finish-focussed. That said, the flavour on offer is pretty immense."
- Campbell Mattinson
Tasting Notes
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. 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 fine texture rather than sheer intensity or power of flavour. The result is a wine that helps to redefine Barossa Shiraz at the highest quality level.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity