Metala "Original Plantings" Shiraz 2001.

The 2001 Metala Original Plantings Shiraz is dark ruby red in colour. Intense berry fruit notes are supported by spicy licorice, mint, eucalypt and subtle oak aromas on the nose. Very fine tannins from a blend of French and American oak show an intense, deep yet perfectly balanced palate and displays generous fruit characters without any hint of jamminess with a lovely smooth clean finish. We opened this bottle thinking it was of similar ilk to the Shiraz/Cabernet which is available on special from time to time. This wine is definitely a cut above that, I suspect a price of around $30 was paid for it and the Aussie Gold book (Robin Bradley) rates the current value as A$50 .... somehow it missed the cellar inventory.

It is still improving and if you have more than 1 bottle in your cellar, enjoy one now with confidence but plan to keep the rest for a while yet. The Gold book rates the wine best drinking in 2011.