Saturated ruby. Broad, highly aromatic bouquet of blackberry, blueberry, cherry-vanilla and fresh flowers. Spicy red and dark berry liqueur flavors coat the palate, with silky tannins providing firmness. This juicy, suave, very fresh wine finishes with vibrant fruit and excellent length. Delivers serious flavor impact with no excess weight or ripeness. Bet on this rewarding at least a decade of aging.

Rating for Australia-South Australia-Adelaide-Barossa: 96 (excellent)<br/><br/>Drinkability: too young, let it sit<br/>

winemaker's notes:<br/>Color: Glistening purple<br/><br/>Nose: Giveaway, pristine Barossa Valley Shiraz fruit aromas; fresh blueberry pie and blood plum. A barrel-fermented vapor net entraps scents of cinnamon and nutmeg, violet and bergamot. Flirting strawberry yogurt and freshly cut rhubarb aromatics unwittingly entice. A nose of elevated and finessed perfumed high notes a la RWT!<br/><br/>Palate: The palate is balanced and full-bodied with a silken, lush, "tofu-like" texture, replete with generous, ripe, even yet firm tannins. Flavors of wild-berry fruits - blueberry, boysenberry and loganberry, again verging towards raspberry yoghurt, redefine the "sweet-conserve" descriptor - neither porty nor residual sugarsweet, but lush and (dry red) unctuous.<br/><br/>This is another great Barossa vintage, highlighting the strength of any of the Barossa sourced 2005 reds.<br/><br/>Food pairings: Ideal with beef, duck and game.<br/><br/>critical acclaim:<br/>"The 2005 RWT Shiraz was aged in 70% new French oak hogsheads. The bouquet shows off aromas of pain grille, pencil lead, damp earth, pepper, game, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. Velvety textured, supple, ripe and succulent, this elegant effort is impeccably balanced and built for pleasure. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. "<br/>92 Points<br/>The Wine Advocate<br/><br/>"Rich, ripe and focused, with a lovely purity to the blackberry, dark plum and sweet spice flavors, playing against bittersweet chocolate notes on the long, expressive finish. Best from 2010 through 2020. 1,500 cases imported."<br/>93 Points<br/>Wine Spectator<br/><br/>"Good red-purple; fragrant aromas of black cherry, plum and blackberry; utterly delicious mouthfeel and seductive fruit; will live, but extreme patience not needed."<br/>94 Points<br/>

strong berry flavors. smooth tannins. long length of cinnamon and liquer flavors.