Well known forum identity and wine horder, Bruce recently opened a bottle of Rosemount 1998 Balmoral and told me the wine was falling apart and suggested I try a bottle, so I pulled one out of the cellar to check.
The bouquet was initially slightly reductive and volatile but both facets blew off quickly to reveal plums, chocolate, vanilla and earthy notes. Tannins are still dusty and need a more time to resolve, in fact, the wine is tight! Full bodied, the plums, chocolate, blackberry and tar flavors are intense and flow right through the palate and finish very respectably. Rated as Excellent, there is no hurry to drink as the wine is still years away from its peak. Bruce was either smoking dope at the time or had a bad bottle.