James Halliday says: 97
Deep, dense purple-crimson; the bouquet sets the scene with interwoven black fruits and cedary French oak; the palate is exceedingly complex, intense and layered; the flavours are spicy, black-fruited, with licorice and bitter chocolate, fine, lingering tannins provide the framework.


James Halliday says: 96
Year in and year out there is an understand quietness to this wine that speaks volumes about the style, as everything is working together as one; the fruit, the oak, the tannins and the inherent complexity of some seriously old vine Barossa material shines through; freshness, vitality, harmony and ageworthiness are just a few words that do this excellent rendition of RWT justice.
Best Drinking: To 2050

Huon Hooke

Huon Hooke
Prolific Australian wine reviewer for Fairfax Media and huonhooke.com

Huon Hooke: 95
Deep purple red: very good colour. Oak dominates nose. Palate has better flavour and balance, good elegance and style. Intense flavour and powerful, driving palate, lively but smooth, with delicious flavour, good line and balance. Very long. Tannins run the length of the palate. Very good wine albeit fairly oak-driven. Long keeper.

Tyson Stelzer: 96
The definition, precision and persistence of fruit and structure here take RWT to a new level. Its pitch black, a very dark RWT with a narrow, vibrant purple rim. The bouquet is tightly wound, like a coiled spring of black fruits ready to erupt. The palate contrasts outstanding depth of crunchy blackberry and black plum fruit with a tannin profile of immense proportions, a wall of beautifully fine structure with a commanding confidence that will sustain this as one of RWTs longer-lived expressions.

Lisa Perotti-Brown MW
93+ points erobertparker.com
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 RWT Shiraz is a little closed showing intense and youthful primary aromas of cassis, kirsch, cedar, prunes and a touch of mulberries. Rich, muscular, packed with flavor, it is full-bodied, concentrated and finishes long with oak still poking out. Very youthful still, it will drink from 2014 to 2026+.



The development of Penfolds Red Winemaking Trial (RWT) reflects extraordinary progress in viticulture and winemaking. The two disciplines are increasingly intertwined, as growers and winemakers work together in search of optimum balance, ripeness and flavour.

RWT draws fruit from 20 to 100 year-old vineyards arcing across the west and north-west of the Barossa Valley, mostly independently grown. The best vineyards produce fruit of voluptuous intensity, ripe tannins, and juicy flavours. The RWT Shiraz has a very seductive style with a plum/blueberry fruit profile and fine ripe tannins underpinned by savoury French oak.

Since its first vintage in 1997, collectors have recognised the sheer class of RWT. Already the wine has a strong secondary market following, illustrating its collectability and cellaring potential.