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Wine Products » Shiraz :: 1998 Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz
RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz 1998
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. Vineyard Region Barossa Valley Vintage Conditions 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. Grape Variety Shiraz (Syrah) Maturation 15 months in new French oak. Winemaker Comments: John Duval Colour Dense crimson red. Nose Rich, saturated, Christmas pudding-like fruit and stylish French oak are immediately obvious, followed by more subtle aromas of dried glace fruits and underlying dark liquorice and prune. Palate A sleek, luscious Barossa Valley Shiraz in which a core of blueberry fruit and ripe tannins contribute to phenomenal length of flavour. There is also a refined, luxurious, praline-like flavour and texture. Still very youthful, with oak more integrated on the palate than the nose, indicating a great cellaring future. A modern Penfolds classic that is at once both sophisticated and hedonistic. Wine Analysis Alc/Vol: 14.5% Acidity: 7.20g/L pH: 3.49 Last Tasted 15 Dec 2000 Peak Drinking 2005 - 2020 Food Matches Ideally suited to Beef, Cheese, Duck & Game |
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