I wasn't after a specific opinion of the 98 vintage, just thoughts on the wine generally. Has it performed much better than it's modest price tag over the past 10 years and are current vintages maintaining the standard?
I can't talk of the label generally, but I can talk of the 1998. I thought it was one of the bargains of the century when it was released, because it had good black fruit and tight tannins, and while it wasn't very pleasurable at first, I thought that it had the structure to age (medium term) into something special. Or special for a wine that sells for less than $15 anyway.
But every bottle I have opened over the past 18 months had been OK, but plain and ordinary, and I don't really know where the tannins have disappeared to. I had a dozen, but I've now auctioned off 6 of them and only kept a bottle or two. I no longer have much hope for it (just my taste, happy if you experience differently) and think that, after all, it was just a bog-standard $15 wine.
I opened my last bottle three years ago and it was superb for the price. My opinion is it would have reached its peak and is ready for drinking now, happy drinking.
Colin
Let us have wine and women, mirth and laughter. Sermons and soda water the day after.
The white label is a shiraz cabernet blend from the Langhorne Creek area where, in good seasons, the vines are naturally flood irrigated in winter by the Bremer River. In fact the area regularly floods in winter (a rarity in SA) and is just a stone's throw from Lake Alexandrina, the last fresh water before the Murray finally discharges into the Coorong.
The wine is a good reflection of old vines used by Blass, Penfolds, Orlando and others often without mention. In the last 10 years the area has been planted from wall to wall by the big companies.
The '01 is a good reflection of the unique terrior and shoud continue to improve over many years. An old style red it should be enjoyed before the wonderful very old vines get swallowed up by the big companies. Enjoy this bargain priced wine for it's beautiful fruit that needs little oak.
Another bargain is Lakes Breeze Banoota again a shiraz cabernet blend from ancient flood irrigated vines that can measure 150mm at the base.
The white label is a shiraz cabernet blend from the Langhorne Creek area where, in good seasons, the vines are naturally flood irrigated in winter by the Bremer River. In fact the area regularly floods in winter (a rarity in SA) and is just a stone's throw from Lake Alexandrina, the last fresh water before the Murray finally discharges into the Coorong.
The wine is a good reflection of old vines used by Blass, Penfolds, Orlando and others often without mention. In the last 10 years the area has been planted from wall to wall by the big companies.
The '01 is a good reflection of the unique terrior and shoud continue to improve over many years. An old style red it should be enjoyed before the wonderful very old vines get swallowed up by the big companies. Enjoy this bargain priced wine for it's beautiful fruit that needs little oak.
Another bargain is Lakes Breeze Banoota again a shiraz cabernet blend from ancient flood irrigated vines that can measure 150mm at the base.
Keep it to yourself.
Chuck
The Langhorne Creek vines that are used for both Metala are owned by the boys at Brothers in Arms. This is why both labels are so good.
Graham
Chardonnay: A drink you have when there is no RED wine, the beer hasn't arrived and the water may be polluted
