Penfolds RWT Shiraz is a big juicy Barossan Shiraz refined by the use of older French oak barrels. 1998 is considered to be one of the classic vintages of the modern age. Drinking wonderfully now but with many years still to come in its development, this is a great addition to any cellar.

One of the benchmarks of Barossa Shiraz, Peter Lehmann's Stonewell is a classic example of the rich concentrated old vine style. While bold on the palate, there is always an inherent complexity to the Stonewell that enables it to be compared with all of the great Australian wines produced today.

With plenty of blackberry, plum, mulberry and menthol-like fruit and fine, rusty, almost unyielding tannins, this is a strong, firm wine by Wendouree with plenty of lasting power. The Shiraz component derives from vineyard plots that include bush vine material. Parcels of very old vine Malbec bring further distinctiveness. The wine is vinified in open fermenters and matured for 12 months in new and used French oak.

Tasting NotesFrom some of the oldest ungrafted Shiraz vines in the world, all of at least 100 years of age.The wine delivers classical regional characters of dense, spicy blueberry fruit and savoury pan jus. Next come hints of liquorice, plum, and all-spice all delicately interwoven. A fine grained tannin structure and depth of flavour all show that this wine is made to last the distance in the cellar. A long balanced finish with persistence.WINEMAKINGThe hand-picked grapes were destemmed, but not crushed, and spent seven days on their skins in open fermenters with hand-plunging four times daily to gently extract colour, flavours and tannins. This was followed by careful basket pressing followed 24 months' maturation in our cellars in a combination of French and American oak (20% New).In keeping with the non-interventionist winemaking style we have neither fined nor filtered this wine. VINEYARDVINEYARD From just two small vineyards on the Eastern Edge of Vine Vale and the Nuriootpa sub-regions of the BarossaSOIL TYPE Vine Vale - Deep sandy loam soilsNuriootpa - Alluvial sandy soil over red brown earthFrom just two small vineyards on the Eastern Edge of Vine Vale (Deep Sandy Loam) and the Nuriootpa (Alluvial Sand over Red Brown Earth) sub-regions of the Barossa.

The soils of the Craggy Range sites that supply fruit for this blend are scarily Pomerol-like. This is a wine of finesse and restraint, showing complexity and depth that we have come to expect from this producer, but is still surprising the uninitiated. 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot.

The Torbreck Les Amis Grenache is aged for 18 months in new oak and is a remarkably fragrant wine that shows abundant aromas of spice, cherry and wild raspberry. Textured and plush on the palate, it evolves into layers of blackberry and red currants with firm, ripe tannins. David Powell continues to lead this formidable Barossa wine estate to truly remarkable heights.