RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022 Lunar New Year Gift Box
Penfolds
RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022 Lunar New Year Gift Box
Penfolds
RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022 Lunar New Year Gift Box
Overview
Overview
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with RWT Shiraz, a mark of refined excellence. Presented in a Lunar New Year gift box, it embodies the essence of prosperity and good fortune.
The initials RWT stand for ‘Red Winemaking Trial’, the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in the early 1990s. Naturally, now no longer a ‘trial’, RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage. Stylistically, RWT is contemporary, opulent and finely tuned. An interesting contrast to the well-established Grange, which is a more concentrated, muscular and assertive style. RWT is made from Barossa Valley Shiraz grapes primarily selected for their aromatic qualities, varietal typicity, fine tannins and plush texture. Maturation in French oak provides another contrast to Grange. The result is a wine that redefines Barossa Valley Shiraz at the highest quality level. While delightfully approachable on release, RWT Bin 798 has the concentration and balance to age for many years.
| Varietal | Shiraz |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Barossa Valley |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
| Alc/Vol | 14.5% |
| Peak Drinking | 2026 - 2050 |
| Winemaker | The Penfolds Team |
Awards and Accolades
Awards and Accolades
| 99 Points | Andrew Caillard MW |
| 98 Points | Ken Gargett |
| 98 Points | Ray Jordan |
| 96 Points | Huon Hooke, The Real Review |
| 96 Points | Colin Hay, The Drinks Business |
| 96 Points | Erin Larkin, Robert Parker, Wine Advocates |
| 96 Points | Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion |
| 95 Points | Tyson Stelzer |
| 95 Points | Jeni Port, Winepilot |
| 17+ Points | Jancis Robinson |
Andrew Caillard MW
"2022 Bin 798 Shiraz is a brilliant wine with cascades of dark berry fruits and perfectly integrated new French oak. The fruit and tannins are neatly aligned giving the wine a continuous and unbroken line. It has a Grange-like stature that suggests a long life ahead. It is one of the standout wines of the release and the 2022 Barossa vintage. 99 points. "
Jeni Port, Winepilot
"While no longer a trial, RWT (Red Winemaking Trial) remains a work in progress. It was developed as a modern interpretation to the Barossa Valley tradition of matching shiraz with American oak. The role of oak – all French – is something integral to the style, but each release has slowly revealed a more sensitive oak application and presence. This is the case in 2022, and it is to be congratulated. The scent sends that message with subtle allspice, clove, a dusting of espresso grounds alongside plum, black fruits, red earth and almond. The wine changes in the glass, first firm and resistant, then friendly, yielding a warm generosity enhanced by some smart, well placed background oak and a firm tannin presence. The latter is for the journey ahead, but it is not off-putting to those who might wish to succumb to temptation. 95 points."
Tyson Stelzer
"There is a coiled depth to the black fruits, liquorice and high cocoa dark chocolate of Barossa shiraz, confidently set to a rigid framework of French oak tannin confidence. I love the way the cool nights of 2022 season infuse definition and character to the expansive depth that proclaims Barossa! One for the cellar. 95 points."
Taste Description
Taste Description
Nose
The nose is an array of fragrance and intricate perfumes. French oak is apparent, yet not overtly dominating, imparting an exotic spice that complements blue fruits, notably mulberry. There is an earthy depth, with ironstone adding to the wine's aromatic profile. Layers continue to unfold with espresso and bitter chocolate adding richness, while rhubarb and fermented tea bring a unique edge. The savoury dimension is explored through pepper-crusted beef and fresh fennel notes, alongside a hint of liquorice. A final touch of polished leather rounds out this complex bouquet.
Flavours and Palate
White cherry and cherry pip lead, their fruitiness matched by chocolate undertones. Red and blue fruits come forward — mulberries and red currants — offering a spectrum of berry flavours. These are complemented by grape confection sweetness and the subtle spiciness of pink peppercorns. The structure exhibits both tension and potential; it is coiled, suggesting complexity that will reveal itself over time. Youthful yet layered tannins interplay with fine acidity to ensure each sip is as memorable as the last. A wine that captures the spirit of the Barossa Valley.
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Vintage Conditions
The Barossa Valley enjoyed near average winter rainfall influenced by various climate patterns. The impact of La Niña in South Australia was minimal over the growing season. Heading into budburst, soil moisture levels were on the lower side due to below-average rainfall in August and September. While spring was generally warm, temperatures remained modest for much of the season. October brought its share of challenges with heavy rains and isolated hail damage from thunderstorms late in the month. November continued the trend of above-average rainfall, while December stayed dry. The summer months were marked by temperate conditions, with only 11 days exceeding 35°C and no extreme heat events above 40°C. Ideal weather during harvest time—with significant day-to-night temperature shifts—allowed canopies to maintain health and support sugar development and phenolic maturity in the grapes without risking desiccation. These conditions culminated in a vintage that allowed winemakers to harvest grapes at their peak ripeness and freshness.
The Penfolds Team
Key to the success of Penfolds has been a lineage of visionary winemakers. There have only ever been four Chief Winemakers at the helm of Penfolds – Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago, each a custodian of a rich winemaking tradition that goes back for more than 170 years.
Our current Penfolds winemaking team has more than 100 years between them as Penfolds winemakers. They are constantly refining and improving their work, whilst honouring the winemaking techniques of their predecessors.