Continue cellaring. Peak drinking window 2022 - 2050.

99 Points - Andrew Caillard MW

98 Points - Ken Gargett, The World of Fine Wine Magazine

98 Points - Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

19+/20 Points - Matthew Jukes

98 Points - Huon Hooke

97 Points - Tony Love

18/20 Points - Jancis Robinson

96 Points - Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com

96 Points - David Sly, Decanter Magazine

“Everything it should be…and a little bit more! Reminiscent of the alluring 2002 RWT at release.”

"Plush and glossy – all class and charm. 2018 ripening and vintage conditions ideally suited the RWT style of Barossa shiraz. Convincingly."

Origin: Barossa Valley, South Australia.

Maturation: 16 months in French oak hogsheads (64% new and 36% 1-y.o.)

Wine Analysis: Alc/Vol: 14.5% Acidity: 6.7 g/L, pH: 3.59

Variety: Shiraz.

Rainfall in autumn was below average, a trend that continued into the early weeks of winter with only 25% of the long-term average achieved in June. Increased rainfall occurred in the second half of winter, with vines entering the growing season with moisture profiles well into the root zone, down to one metre. Conditions favoured canopy development in spring, initially dry before plentiful rainfall in November. Temperatures warmed substantially through spring boosting vine growth and rushing the vines through flowering.

Summer was dry, with no recorded major rain events. This carried into January with a heat spike around veraison causing vines to stall, pushing the start of vintage out by a week or so. The warm, dry weather carried into autumn, setting up an Indian summer with favourable conditions for ripening grapes.

A very strong vintage for Barossa Valley shiraz.

The initials RWT stand for ‘Red Winemaking Trial’, the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995. Naturally, now no longer a ‘Trial’ RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage.

They have the precision, concentration, persistency and balance to age for many years.  The best vintages should last at least thirty years.