2007 Balnaves of Coonawarra The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Before becoming involved in the wine industry in 1971, Doug Balnaves was a sheep shearer. Like other shearers, he was paid by the number of sheep shorn as recorded in a tally book. The higher the tally, the greater the recognition amongst his peers for his skill and labour. Since 1990, the Balnaves family have been vying for recognition for the place of Australia's top Cabernet with their 'Tally' reserve, a wine which some already believe to be Australia's finest expression of the variety. Maturation for this wine took place for sixteen months in new fine-grained barrels from prestigious French cooperages, Seguin Moreau, Saury and Sylvain. The result is a monumental Coonawarra Cabernet, rated 97 points by James Halliday, the highest scoring Cabernet in his latest wine companion.

Tasting note: Saturated, opaque black purple colour with black purple hue. An amazing Cabernet colour! Aromas of violets, blackcurrant, dark chocolate and spice, followed by some cedar and cigar box end notes. Richly structured palate with flavours of dark chocolate, blackcurrant, confectionary, dark plum, spice and cedar. Fine grained, firm, dry tannins but in balance to the voluminous fruit. Monumental structure and concentration with exceptional depth of flavour. Very long aftertaste of blackcurrant, dark chocolate, spice and cedar. An outstanding Coonawarra Cabernet.
Cellar 5-8 years (2014-2016)
15.0% Alc