2013 Penfolds, Bin 798 RWT Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Shiraz RWT Barossa Valley has a youthfully mute blackberries and black cherries-scented nose with hints of cedar, toast, cracked pepper and Provence herbs. While the oak is still standing out slightly in the mouth, this is backed up by tons of rich, seductive, mouth-coating fruit and firm, rounded tannins, with just enough acid in the very long finish. This is a truly great RWT!

Bright purple. Heady, complex bouquet of ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, cola and sandalwood, with smoky mineral and five-spice powder accents building in the glass. Seamless and deeply concentrated, offering surprisingly lithe black and blue fruit flavors that pick up spiciness and sweetness with air. At once brawny and elegant, this Shiraz finishes very long and smoky, with repeating blackberry and cola notes and velvety tannins.

Round and flattering. Rich and full-on. No shy retiring flower… (JR)