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96
/ 100
Gary Walsh
Red
Classification
Shiraz
Variety
2006
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
South Australia, Barossa Valley
Region
14.0%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
96 / 100"Musky and full of blackberry and plum with toasty dark chocolate and vanilla oak – typically RWT (silly name) with the oak being less overt and better taken up than in previous vintages. It’s tight but smooth and remarkably fresh and lithe for such a big strong wine and there’s an attractive savouriness in the flavour profile too – bitter chocolate and olives if you were looking for specifics. The structure and intensity vibrates long after swallowing. Needs plenty of time but it’s pretty impressive stuff – and so it should be considering the price."
- Gary Walsh
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.
"In the style of the 2002 vintage - perhaps a touch more
sumptuous. Proudly Barossa, a pedigreed 2006 offer that needs
plenty of air to open up."
Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity
- Smooth
- Complex