The Auswine Forum

What's the general consensus on this wine?

I bought 3 bottles of 1998 but I haven't opened one yet on the basis of the label which recommends cellaring.

From what I've read about it it seems to be a bit of an underrated wine and a bit of a bargain.

I suppose I should just open one and see for myself.

Ratcatcher wrote:What's the general consensus on this wine?

I bought 3 bottles of 1998 but I haven't opened one yet on the basis of the label which recommends cellaring.

From what I've read about it it seems to be a bit of an underrated wine and a bit of a bargain.

I suppose I should just open one and see for myself.

Which Metala is it. Original plantings SHiraz (Black Label) or Shiraz/Cab (White Label) as this will make a difference.

Graham

It's thw white label.

I've got 3 bottles of the 2001 as well.

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.

Jeff2.

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

The 1998 White Label was one of the bargain buys in it's release year, I've already drunk most of mine as a house wine a coupla years back.

The 1998 Black Label is still tucked away for a bit longer maturity.

Hi Ratcacher,

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

Chuck wrote:Hi Ratcacher,

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