2002 Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Shiraz 750ml

Critic tasting note: (2002 vintage) “RWT is Penfolds’ homage to Hermitage whose initials stand for ‘Red Winemaking Trial. Not only is it a rare (company) all French-oak aged shiraz but the all the fruit is source from a single region, namely the Barossa. The ’02 spent only 14 months in oak and only 66 per cent of that was new. Compare that to the ’98 RWT that spent nearly 13 months in all new French oak. Dial-ing back the wood has really allowed the fruit to shine. The nose has an intense espresso coffee bent mixed with cedar and blueberry jam and a touch of roasted pepper aromas. The palate is firm long and creamy with smoky bacon, jasmine, coffee and ripe blackberry fruit. This wine is on the fast track to superstardom. (Anthony Gismondi and Stuart Tobe).” –94/100,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: This wine was matured for 14 months in 66% new and 34% one year old French oak hogsheads