2004 Penfolds “RWT” Shiraz & 2005 “Fourteen” Meritage

This review is a continuation of Wednesday at Cellar-17 where we decided to enjoy Shiraz for the evening and finish off with the night with a 2005 Fourteen Appelations. As I blogged the other day we started off the evening with a couple of Shiraz from Vinaceous winery 2006 first year offering that were nice and priced fairly. We ended our Shiraz vibe for the night with the 2004 RWT from Penfolds.

RWT Shiraz presents an admirable alternative to the multi-regional sourcing and American oak maturation that are hallmarks of Grange, expressing instead, single-region Barossa Valley Shiraz matured in French oak barriques. The acronym RWT stands for ‘Red Winemaking Trial’, the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995. RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage.

Wine Details:

Varietal: Shiraz

Vintage: 2004

Region: Barossa Valley

Country: Australia

Made from 20 to 100 year old vines,

Dark color of purple red. On the nose Blackberry, dark plum, dark cherry, currant, anise, tobacco, black pepper, with hint of hint. On the palate nice full mouthfeel, round velvety tannins, nice mid palate, with a dried toast and long finish. Paul made the comment that there was a Wonka rootbeer Bottle Cap candy component that made me chuckle because he was dead on with that and brought back some fine memories for me as a kid. http://www.oldtimecandy.com/bottlecaps.htm

2004 RWT is drinking really well right now, but is not falling off IMO. It could go another 5 or so years.

Rating: 94 JH

We decided to have one more wine for the night, so we chose the 2005 Fourteen Appelations from winemaker Steve Reynolds who has been to Cellar-17 before. The vision behind this wonderfully creative wine started with Thirteen. In 2001 Napa Valley claimed 13 sub-appelations and the wine was created using 1 ton of fruit from each of the AVA’s using fruit from different micro climates, and every soil type. Paul and I were fortunate enough to have 13 Appelations on several occasions before it ran out. In April of 2004 Oak Knoll district became Napa Valley’s 14th American Viticultural Area or AVA. 

If you have never had the pleasure of trying this wine, seek it out and share it with someone special.

PS Paul met Kristi Seitz whose late husband was the brain child behind the original idea, on his recent trip with Carol to Napa for their 20th anniversary. I dont want to steal his thunder so I will let him tell you more.

 Wine Details:

Vintage: 2005

Winery: 13 appelations

Appelation: all 14 appelations of Napa Valley California

Alc: 14.6%

Dark purple red color. On the nose pencil lead, dark chocolate, dark cherry, blackberry, currant, and vanilla. Nice Full body, and heavy mouthfeel. Silky smooth tannins, with hint of hazelnut, and java, great harmonious balance between acidity, and fruit and alc. Long long finish.

Rating: 94+