2001 Penfolds RWT Barossa Shiraz

The initials RWT stand for 'Red Winemaking Trial', the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995.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.

Vintage Conditions: Good winter rains and soil moisture levels led to a very good early growing season. Growth was vigorous and flowering was successful but the exceptional January saw the hottest recorded weather since the 1920s. Rain in mid-March did more good than harm, although vineyards with lower crops, were picked earlier and avoided much of the heat and certainly the rain.

Tasting Note: The wine was matured for 14 months in 65% new, and 35% one-year-old French oak. Deep purple red colour – totally opaque. The nose is very youthful with powerful notes of freshly crushed berries, plum, liquorice and confectionary. The palate is concentrated and mouthfilling displaying the hallmark Barossa weight and richness. Flavours of ripe plums, blackberry, liquorice and spice. Opulently textured with silky smooth tannins. Great power, density and length. An outstanding RWT. Cellar 8-10 years.
Peak Drinking: 2008–2023
Alc/Vol: 14.0%

A stunning Australian Shiraz! Totally opaque black colour with black crimson hue. Superbly aromatic nose, with a top note of violets emerging, following notes of ripe plum, spice, cedar and blackberry. The palate is rich, mouth filling with a superb explosion of flavours. Wonderful ripe fruit, with intense flavours of plum, blackberry and spice followed by a hint of liquorice allsorts and violet infusion. Perfect balance, with very fine grained tannins and exceptionally long aftertaste of liquorice allsorts, blackberry and violets.
Cellar 10-15 years (2014-2019)
ALC./VOL. 14%