Majella 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Jan 05

The first bottle opened from a six pack to see how the wine was progressing. The bouquet was savoury and brooding with mushroom, chocolate, blackcurrant, a hint of cedar and cigar box. The flavour profile on the palate was a bit of a surprise, no real sweetness with tomato leaf, tobacco and mint dominating the blackcurrant and chocolate. Dusty, drying tannins are reasonably smooth, fine-grained, provide a rock solid backbone and are well matched to the unobtrusive acid and pure fruit. A little linear at the moment, this baby needs a few years to soften further and show its best. Rated as Highly Recommended (just) I will try my next bottle in about 18 months.