Ranked #1 of 110 2014 Shiraz from Barossa Valley
97/100
5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Very deep, bright purple/red colour. Fresh and clean, less-oaky than Magill Estate this year. The palate is wonderfully fleshy, rich and supple, laden with ripe tannins, the texture is seductive and the palate is seamless and long and marvellously fine. Discreet notes of chocolate, mocha, coffee, spices and earth as well as red fruits, but it's all so well harmonised: nothing stands out. Power and length.
Tasted: 06/09/2016
Drink: 2018 to 2044
92 Points Robert Parker
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 RWT Shiraz from the Barossa Valley offers cedar and cassis notes over a core of blackberry preserves, mocha and spice cake. Big, full, opulent and with notable notes of toasty oak, it has a solid structure and very long finish. Matured for 17 months in French hogsheads, 70% new, this baby needs a lot of time to integrate and shed some of its puppy fat.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. October, 2016
97 Points James Halliday
The quixotic RWT (Red Wine Trial) name used since '87 now has a bin number and a bottle number, the latter to thwart counterfeiting. It completed fermentation in French hogsheads, followed by 17 months maturation. The power and length of the wine is awesome, as is the price - but it's what the global market is prepared to pay. Drink to 2049.
James Halliday Wine Companion.
95 Points Tyson Stelzer
Eighteen vintages in, and this wine has long outgrown its “Red Wine Trial” designation, hence the soft introduction (in small font for now) of Bin 798 on the front label (because RWT is 798 on your phone – go figure!). This is a vintage that unites generous black and red fruits with dark chocolate oak (17 months in 70% new French oak hogsheads), full and confident, with excellent fruit persistence backed by well-polished, finely structured tannins of great endurance. In line, length and poise, this is one of the great RWTs and a triumph for this low-yielding, warm, dry season.
tysonstelzer.com.