Penfolds Rwt Shiraz 2003

Bright, spicy and vibrant, jazzy with blackberry, cherry and spice flavors, with hints of coffee and anise lingering on the extended finish. The rich flavors are balanced with snappy acidity. Has the intensity to age. Best from 2002 through 2010.

Rich in character and aristocratic in structure, a noble red that wears its subtle cherry, blackberry, chocolate, pepper and sweet spice flavors on a polished frame like a bespoke suit, letting them all play out elegantly on the well-buffed finish. Drink now through 2015.

Big, rich and vibrant, a spectacular mouthful of cherry, currant and a subtle range of peppers and spices and creaminess, finishing with refined tannins and a silky texture that lets the fruit and spice sail on and on. Best from 2009 through 2018.

Ripe and open-textured, rife with cherry, currant and blueberry jam flavors, subtly shaded with spicy, slightly smoky overtones that linger along with the fruit on a very persistent finish. A hint of melted wax is intriguing as well. Best from 2005 through 2015.

The powerful, complex, dark purple-hued 2003 Shiraz RWT, which comes from the Barossa and spends 15 months in 70% new and 30% used 300 liter French oak barrels, boasts blackberry, kirsch liqueur, mulberry, soy, and road tar aromas. Full-bodied, dense, and rich with beautifully integrated oak, it is more evolved and forward than the Magill or the Grange. It can be drunk now or cellared for 10andndash;15+ years.

Former winemaker John Duval began developing the RWT (andldquo;Red Winemaking Trialandrdquo;) in 1995, producing the first vintage in 1997, by taking 100 percent Barossa Valley Shiraz and aging it in French oak, in contrast to Penfoldsandrsquo; legendary Grange, a blend of grapes from multiple regions, aged in American oak. The result has become a new classic that can sometimes outshine its older brother.

Inky purple-black in color, this looks like a heavy weight, and lovers of big, rich wines likely wonandrsquo;t be disappointed. Itandrsquo;s full-bodied, verging on heavy, with chocolaty plum and prune flavors that nevertheless stay surprisingly fresh on the long finish. Itandrsquo;s approachable now, but how long it will last is a tough call.