Planeta Santa Cecilia 1998

Planeta Santa Cecilia 1998: This wine has a wonderful vibrancy in the glass, with a red-purple centre fading out to a bright red rim. Crushed summer fruits greet you on the nose, led by black cherries, followed up by some toasted, vanillin oak. There is a rich and earthy character to the nose, with a nuance of black pepper. Supple, ripe and rounded tannins, with well-balanced barely noticeable acidity and a silky texture make for an elegant mouth-feel. There are spicy black fruits and a strong, earthy edge to the wine coming through on the medium-full palate also. The smooth texture persists through the finish, culminating in a spice-laden length. 17/20 (7/3/02)