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Balnaves have used Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to make this modern sparkling red. Blended from selected parcels of more complex and elegant wines from nine vintages of reserve wines, this blend was tiraged in September 2009, and then disgorged in December 2009.

Rich and complex with blackcurrant, blackberry and sweet mature Coonawarra Cabernet characters, this wine is ready to drink on release, however it will gain complexity and softness with careful cellaring.

The Cheeky Red is a summer wine to be enjoyed in the sunshine with picnics of chicken, seafood or pasta and laughter with friends. Made in a traditional rose style from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes ripened in the warm Coonawarra sun, Cheeky Red should be well chilled and enjoyed immediately before the long shadows of winter turn your attention to room temperature wines and log fires. Give your friends a bit of cheek!

Among his many pursuits, Doug Balnaves was a shearer of Merino sheep. A shearer in Australia, is paid by the number of sheep he shears. Counted every two hour period, the Tally is recorded in the Tally book. The higher the Tally, the greater the recognition among his peers for skill and hard work. As an expression of this tradition, the Balnaves family see the wine 'The Tally' as the ultimate achievement for their company.

Winemakers Comments:
Vintage 2008 was warm and early producing rich wines with ripe tannins. Sourced from our Dead Morris Vineyard (72%), Quarry Block (24%) and Dunstan vineyard (4%), with 76% of the blend receiving a long maceration on skins. Maturation was for 16 months in new fine-grained barrels from Sequin Moreau, and Sylvain cooperages, before light egg fining and bottling in December 2009, under procork.

Deep rich red in colour, the nose is perfumed with perfectly ripened dark blackberry and cassis fruit. The palate is tight and compact with dark fruit and some leathery fine-grained tannins. The finish is long and textured with fine grainy grape tannins. A richer warmer year with outstanding balance. Decant before drinking.

The 2008 The Blend was blended from 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 1% of Cabernet Franc, the wine was matured in new and mostly used French oak for 15 months prior to fining and bottling in August 2009.

Deep red colour, with dark blackberry/blueberry fruit and very subtle vanillian oak. The palate is full bodied, round and fleshy with dark berry fruit, spice and very soft tannins and a lingering blackberry finish. This wine will improve with decanting before drinking.

Vintage 2008 was very early with a heat wave in early March that brought all fruit up to ripeness over a two-week period. This produced rich Shiraz with full body and excellent density and balance. Matured in new and second fill French oak from Dargaud + Jaegle, Seguin Moreau and Saury for 15 months prior to bottling in August 2009. This year we have included a small volume of our own Viognier in our Shiraz to add some perfume and lift to the nose and to round out the tannins on the palate.

Deep red colour, with a complex nose of red and black berries, spice and black pepper, the palate is solid and rich with berry fruit, chocolate and vanillian oak characters. The finish is firm and structured. This wine will improve with further careful aging and decanting before drinking.

Vintage 2008 was early and dry. Chardonnay was handpicked in our Avery and Old blocks from the 24 February to the 4 March before the heat-wave which characterised the vintage.
Whole bunch pressed juice was barrel fermented in new and one year old Seguin Moreau Chagny barriques using both wild ferments and AWRI 1375 yeast. Lees contact for eleven months preceded bottling in February 2009. 30 barriques were produced.

2008 Vintage was hot and dry and this wine reflects this with a riper cassis and blackberry flavour profile and just a touch of liquorice. Blended principly from our Walker and Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon blocks (83%) with the Merlot coming from our
single-stake trained vines in our Rise vineyard (17%). Maturation was for 16 months in 50 % new Troncais-Jupilles French oak from St Martin. An excellent Cab Merlot from a vintage which is ripe and intense but retains medium body and balance.

Among his many pursuits, Doug Balnaves was a shearer of Merino sheep. A shearer in Australia, is paid by the number of sheep he shears. Counted every two hour period, the Tally is recorded in the Tally book. The higher the Tally, the greater the recognition among his peers for skill and hard work. As an expression of this tradition, the Balnaves family see the wine 'The Tally' as the ultimate achievement for their company.

Winemakers Comments:
Vintage 2007 was dramatically affected by spring frosts but fortunately our best vineyards were not damaged. Sourced from our Dead Morris Vineyard (79%) and Quarry Block (21%), 56% of the blend received a long maceration on skins. Maturation was for 16 months in new fine-grained barrels from Seguin Moreau, Saury and Sylvain cooperages, before light egg fining and bottling in December 2008 under Procork.

Deep rich red in colour, the nose is perfumed with dark blackberry fruit with some cooler vintage, black olive and liquorice notes. The palate is lean and tight with dark fruit and some leathery fine-grained tannins. The finish is long and textured with slightly more grippy grape tannins from the cooler vintage. A perfectly balanced leaner style Tally reflecting the vintage.

Vintage 2007 saw unprecedented frosts over Southern Australia. Our best vineyards were fortunately not affected. Blended from our Dead Morris and Quarry blocks, this wine spent 16 months in tight-grain French oak from, Seguin Moreau, Saury, Taransaud and St Martin cooperages, before bottling in December 2008 under Procork.

Deep rich red in colour, the nose is perfumed with aromas of ripe cassis, liquorice, and some spicy notes, with subtle vanillan oak. The palate is lean and structured with tight cassis fruit and firmer tannins from a cooler year. This wine will reward careful cellaring, and we recommend to decant before drinking.