2004 Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz Winery: Penfolds Vintage: 2004 Region: Barossa Valley SA Bottle Size: 750ml Variety: Shiraz Price: $200.00 (out of stock)

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 in French oak barriques. 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. 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.

RWT
Vineyard Region Barossa Valley

Vintage Conditions A bove average winter rainfall led into
a promising 2004 vintage, which was
characterised by mild conditions up
until February, followed by hot weather
conditions throughout March and April.
South Australia fared well and produced
wines of elegance and intensity.

Grape variety Shiraz

Maturation This wine was aged for 14 months
in new (69%) and one year old
(31%) French oak hogsheads.

Wine Analysis A lc/Vol: 14.5%  Acidity: 6.8g/L  pH: 3.57
Last Tasted 1.12.06
Peak Drinking 2008 to 2028

Winemaker comments by Peter Gago

Colour I nky, deep and dense purple.

Nose A romatics leap from the glass - sweet fruits,
with blueberry to the fore. Spices and a
suggestion of cedary oak court the regionally
proclaimed Barossa Valley Shiraz varietal
notes. Complex, and invitingly generous.

Palate The palate is at once opulent, juicy and
mouthwatering - a compote of assorted berries
(red and blue), Satsuma plum and cherry.
Dark pepper spices adorn the back palate,
and the tannins are engulfed by the abovementioned
fruit rush. The fruit sits effortlessly
in 69% new oak, adding another dimension
to the structural and flavour layers. This is
as impressive an RWT as that from the 2002
vintage - each sip (glass?) is better than the one
before.