Penfolds RWT 2020 Bin 798 Shiraz

Indulge your senses in the extraordinary world of Penfolds RWT 2020 Bin 798 Shiraz, where every sip is a journey into opulence and finesse. The initials RWT, derived from 'Red Winemaking Trial,' hint at the experimental origins of this masterpiece that evolved into a Barossa Valley icon since its initiation in 1995.

This shiraz is a testament to precision winemaking, where the artistry lies in crafting a wine that marries aromatic allure with plush texture. Contrasting its more assertive sibling, Grange, RWT is a symphony of generosity on the palate. Silken tannins, dense and persistent, create a sturdy foundation that supports a canvas of flavors cascading in waves.

Varietally correct and true to its Barossa Valley origin, RWT unveils a signature blend of blue fruits, boysenberry, plum, and mulberry. Layers of complexity unfold with a hint of crème brûlée and panforte, providing a sweet counterpoint to exotic spice and cedary oak notes. Regionally distinct, it bears an aromatic profile that whispers of the Barossa Valley.

A compelling synthesis of dark forest berries, bramble, satsuma plum conserve, and dark cherry dances on the palate. Warm spice, fresh tobacco leaf, and nuances of chinotto/sarsaparilla add depth, while violets and hints of vanilla pod complete an enticing nose. French oak notes, restrained yet present, contribute to the wine's nuanced charm.

The 2020 vintage, marked by challenges, resulted in a low yielding harvest, producing shiraz with strong varietal characteristics. Winter drought, a cool and dry spring, and a summer heatwave shaped the grapes, allowing them to slowly reach full ripeness. The result is a benchmark Barossa Valley shiraz, a classic RWT that balances fruit intensity with plush velvety tannins.

Maturing for 16 months in French oak hogsheads (49% new, 51% 1-Y.O.), RWT Shiraz showcases the culmination of meticulous craftsmanship. Launched in May 2000 and now bearing the esteemed Bin number 798, it reflects its established status within the Penfolds portfolio. These wines, with their precision, concentration, persistency, and balance, are destined to age gracefully for decades. As Penfolds Winemaker Shavaughn Wells attests, the 2020 RWT is a timeless masterpiece, a benchmark Barossa Valley shiraz that will captivate connoisseurs from 2025 to 2050 and beyond.

Alcohol: 14.5%

98 POINTS - "This is a wonderful Bin 789 with striking poise, polish and intensity on offer. Show-stopping aromas of ripe blackberry, dark plum and espresso are primal and freshly captured. The palate is rich and lusciously expressed, with a very plush and intense core of ripe blackberry and dark-plum fruit. Roasted coffee here, too. Such poise and polish. Drink over the next decade or more." - Nick Stock | JamesSuckling.com

98 POINTS - "The 2020 RWT Shiraz Bin 798 is a powerhouse of bloody fruit and firm tannin. It veritably explodes from the blocks, showing plum skin, raspberry leaf, blackberry, mulberry, lashings of salted licorice and rendered lamb fat. I am coming to love (in a big and serious way) the Barossa Shiraz' bottlings from 2020—the year was significantly down in yields, warm and dry, and responsible for wines of muscle, density and gravitas. So, too, for this wine. Excellent" - Erin Larkin | Robert Parker Wine Advocate

97 POINTS - "This midnight purple colored Shiraz opens with boysenberry and black currant bouquet with hints of black licorice, toasted oak, and brioche. On the palate, this wine is full bodied with nicely integrated medium plus acidity. The mouthfeel is nicely balanced, round, opulent and savory. The flavor profile is graphite and extracted black currant blend with notes of black tea, black licorice, and mulberry. We also detected hints of boysenberry and dark chocolate. The finish is dry and its bold and dusty tannins build-up and last for a very long time. The Tasting Panel could certainly sip this Shiraz by the fireplace this winter. If you would like it with food, we would recommend decanting it for a while before pairing it with a pan-seared wagyu ribeye steak. Enjoy" - Ken's Wine Guide

95 POINTS - "This is a strong vintage of RWT. It's austere, dense and still-young but is also seamlessly layered, almost unnoticeably complex. The brambly blueberry and raspberry fruit is woven with plums, dried herbs, spices and florals, with a note of freshly sealed tarmac. The palate is silky and supple, tightened by a muscular line of chalky tannins with lifted acidity and densely packed flavor. A long distance runner, this should be held another few years until around 2026, then drunk for several decades after." - Wine Enthusiast

Colour:

Deep dark cherry red, opaque at the core and luminous on the rim.

Nose:

Regionally distinct, an aromatic profile that can only signify the Barossa Valley. A compelling synthesis of dark forest berries, bramble, satsuma plum conserve and dark cherry. The primary fruit characteristics are unpinned by generous warm spice, fresh tobacco leaf and a suggestion of chinotto/sarsaparilla. Violets add a hallmark floral stamp. Intriguing nuances of fresh vanilla pod and dark-roast arabica ristretto round out an enticing nose. French oak notes are present yet remain restrained and nuanced.

Palate:

The palate is generous, with voluminous and enveloping tannins, so silken they betray their density and persistence. This sturdy foundation provides a perfect canvas upon which to display the spoils of the harvest, layers of flavours roll over the palate in waves. Varietally correct and true to origin. Blue fruits, boysenberry, plum and mulberry are front and centre, a signature of RWT. A suggestion of crème brûlée and panforte provide a sweet counterpoint to complex notes of exotic spice and cedary oak.