Wine

Newcastle Herald

Saturday January 17, 2009

JOHN LEWIS

Its a common contradiction in the wine industry the Metala brand

is owned by the Saltram arm of Fosters Group and the famous

Metala vineyard at Langhorne Creek has been owned for

118 years by the Adams family. Current owners Guy and Liz

Adams sell their grapes to Saltram, but also retain select

batches for their own Formby and Adams and Brothers in

Arms label wines.

Metala 2007 White Label Langhorne

Creek Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, $22 * * * *

From the Saltram camp comes this purple-tinged, brick

red blend, which has fruitcake and vanilla bean scents.

Full-bodied blackcurrant flavour shows on the front palate

and plum, black olive and cloves fruit characters meld

with nutty oak. The fi nish has smooth earthy tannins.

Formby and Adams 2006 Leading

Horse Cabernet Sauvignon, $19.95 * * * * 1/2

This Adams family wine demonstrates the quality that

cabernet sauvignon can achieve in Langhorne Creek. It

is dark purple and has briar aromas. Big, rich blackberry

flavour grabs the front of the palate and licorice, mint and

herb fruit characters integrate with toasty oak on the

middle palate. Chalky tannins feature at the finish.

Formby and Adams 2006 Cutting Edge

Cabernet Shiraz, $19.95 * * * *

Metala vineyard cabernet sauvignon (85 per cent) and

shiraz (15 per cent) marry in this garnet-hued red. The nose

has mulberry and menthol scents and the front palate

brings forth powerful plum flavour. Rhubarb and black pepper

fruit characters combine with spicy oak on the middle

palate and minty tannins show at the finish.