Sourced from 7 individual plantings off the Metala vineyards, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon contains 10% Malbec and is aged 24 months in 50% new French and American barriques, 50% in 1 and 2 year oak. Very deep garnet colored, it gives an intense warm black currant and mint core pleasantly laced with thyme and bay leaf, floral nuances, black olive, cloves plus a touch of licorice stick. Full-bodied with just enough muscular fruit, it has a firm level of very fine tannins matched by very crisp acid, demonstrating excellent persistence. Still quite youthful, this wine should age beautifully, drinking best 2011 to 2021+. The original Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz vines on Guy Adams- estate in Langhorne Creek, including the legendary Metala vineyards, were planted in 1891 by his great, great grandfather. Some of these vines still exist and therefore must be about the oldest Cabernet vines in Australia if not the world! With a long history as contract grape growers going back five generations, it's perhaps a little surprising that wasn't until the 1980's that the Adams family started making wines from their own grapes. In 1998 they decided to develop their own label. The ensuing Brothers in Arms wines are all 100% grown and made on this impressive 1000 hectare property. 300 hectares are devoted to vineyards and today about 25% of the fruit off the land goes into their own label. They don't produce any whites. All their wines are aged in bottle for a period before release, -to make them ready to drink and food friendly-.Importer: Vintage Point, Sonoma, CA; www.vintagepoint.com