Penfolds Shiraz RWT Bin 798 South Australia 2020

Is there a more highly regarded Shiraz than that of Penfolds? I think not – and their RWT Bin 798 sits among Penfolds’ greatest hits. The 2020 vintage took home double 98 points alongside a pile of other celebratory critical reviews – and our price cuts a whole $100-plus off typical retail. All signs are pointing straight to your cellar, friend.

Penfolds is the ultimate boss of Aussie Shiraz, and right up there with Grange, this Barossa Valley bottling is their crème de la crème. The initials stand for "Red Winemaking Trial," the internal project name given when developmental work began in 1995. The wine was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage, and once it was clearly no longer a "trial," it earned its permanent place. Then, from the 2014 vintage, it was assigned Bin number 798, derived from the alphanumeric telephone keypad, to reflect its established status in the range.

What makes RWT interesting within the Penfolds hierarchy is how deliberately it contrasts with the legendary Grange. Where Grange is muscular, assertive, and matured in American oak, RWT is opulent, plush, and fleshy, sourced from Barossa Valley fruit chosen for its aromatic lift and texture, and raised exclusively in French oak. It was essentially conceived to redefine top-tier Barossa Shiraz in a more sensual, French-influenced idiom, and like the rest of the flagship Penfolds reds, it's built to last in the cellar for decades upon decades.

The 2020 is really a standout release from a challenging but nonetheless excellent year. The warm, dry, drought-affected vintage had significantly reduced yields that produced Barossa Shiraz with substantial power and energy. The generous and unmistakably Barossa entry delivers mulberry, black cherry, blackberry, plum, and quince, giving way to cookie spices, licorice, sweet tobacco leaf, violets, and darker savory notes… everything from cola and dark-roast coffee to a meaty, peppery beef edge. This is devastatingly lush, voluminous, and so incredibly concentrated, with silky and supple tannins and an everlasting finish. 

Truly, what else could you ask for in a Barossa Shiraz from a legendary producer? Oh, $120 off retail and free shipping on 2+ bottles is certainly a nice bonus. Have at it!

FOOD PAIRINGS: Ah, the temps are blessedly lowering in Northern California, and I’m ready to belly flop into fall fare – starting with a scrumptious dish of braised short ribs with turnips, carrots, and buttery rosemary-garlic mashed potatoes (and a big ‘ol glass of this wine, obvi).