Metala 1998 Original Plantings Shiraz Nov 04

My first bottle from a six-pack that I purchased on release. The nose indicates the fruit is ripe, fresh, intense, minty and although the oak derived vanilla and a hint of dill are very noticeable, the fruit should be up to the task. A mouthful of pure fruit that is more elegant than the flavour punch would suggest; it is muscular in weight with mouth numbing, chewy tannins and intense blackberry, plum, abundant mint chocolate and truffle flavours that finishes long with terrific persistence. This wine is still a solid baby that has not shed its puppy fat and years off its peak.  Rated as Excellent.