1998 Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Shiraz 1.5L Magnum Wooden Box

Critic tasting note: (1998 vintage) “A stunning second vintage that begs the question why hasn’t this been done before. The RWT is an all-French oak shiraz but unlike the Bin 128 from Coonawarra, this is one hundred per cent Barossa. It’s hardly a new concept in Barossa shiraz but it’s a welcome diversion from Penfolds. The ’98 RWT spends nearly 13 months in new French oak and is quite a bit bigger than its ’97 prototype. Tasted twice and simply sensational. Intense coffee, blackberry jam, cedar, roasted pepper aromas and flavours with a big whack of smoky, bacon in the background. Long creamy vanilla, mid-palate flavour with cloves, jasmine and coffee mixed with ripe blackberry. Great finish that is smooth and round. (Anthony Gismondi and Stuart Tobe).” –96/100,Gismondi on Wine

Producer Notes

Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz, first made in 1997, was released after several years of red winemaking trials from which the wine takes its name. In the Penfolds tradition of trial and innovation our winemakers embarked on a project in 1995 titled ‘RWT’ – meaning ‘Red Winemaking Trial’ – to create a new Australian Shiraz integrating the rich, generous flavours of Barossa Valley Shiraz with the finesse of tightly-grained French oak. The result is a fine wine of great elegance and depth of flavour. RWT is second only to Grange in the Penfolds Shiraz hierarchy, although the two wines are stylistically different. RWT expresses Shiraz more openly than Grange. This is partly a function of the grapes themselves and partly a result of maturation in French oak, rather than stronger, sweeter-flavoured American oak. RWT is opulent and voluptuous, and fleshy where Grange is muscular.

Vintage Notes

An outstanding Barossa Valley vintage that began late due to cool spring weather, although conditions were generally frost and disease-free. Warm summer weather led to an early vintage, with excellent fruit quality. Joins 1996, 1990 and 1986 as one of the best vintages of the past two decades.
Ageing:15 months in new French oak