James Halliday's Wine Companion 2013

94 / 100

"The grapes were handpicked and received a long post-fermentation maceration on skins, extracting every bit of flavour and tannins from those skins. The wine spent 19 months in new, top-quality, barriques from top cooperages.

Good Wine Guide 2013 - Nick Stock

97 / 100

“The Tally, representing the top rung of Balnaves’ cabernet-based reds, is given the full dose of fine French timber, and the fruit carries it off with regal style. This has cedary black fruit aromas, plums, vanillin, fresh, dark leaves and freshly tilled earthy notes. Fruit flavour bubbles up through the palate amid tannins that are supple, elongated and sturdy in character, the balance is right on and the finish leaves you salivating. Cellar with confidence; this is impeccable.”

Wine taste Weekly Edition 142

96 / 100

“The generous 2010 season instils an immediate appeal in The Tally. Yet still upholding the cage of rigid, finely structured tannins that provide Tally its long-enduring potential. Succulent, deep and enticing blackberries and black plums are lifted by fragrant violet perfume, undiminished by long skin maceration and 19 months in new French Oak barrels. A strong future is guaranteed, albeit in a generously fruited and immediately enticing guise.” DRINK: 2015-2025

Wine Details

• Region Coonawarra, South Australia
• Vintage 2010
• Type Red Wine
• Variety Cabernet Sauvignon
• Volume 750ml
• Alcohol Volume 14.5%
• PH

  3.50 g/l

• Standard Drinks 8.6
• Acidity

  6.8 g/l

• Closure Cork
• Harvest Date

  24th March – 2nd April 2010

• Background

  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.

• Vineyard Notes

  Vintage 2010 was cool and even ripening, and vintage on normal timing in late April.

• Winemaking

  Sourced from Dead Morris and Walker vineyards, all fruit was handpicked and 100% of the blend received a long maceration on skins. Maturation was for 19 months in new fine-grained chateau barriques from Seguin Moreau, Taransaud and Sylvain cooperages, before light egg fining and bottling in December 2011, under procork.

• Tasting Notes

  Deep rich red in colour, the nose is perfumed with perfectly ripened dark blackberry, liquorice and cassis fruit. The palate is firm, structured and tightly wound with coffee and milk chocolate characters adding to the dark fruit. The finish is long and textured with fine grainy tannins. An excellent Tally from an outstanding Coonawarra vintage. Decant before drinking.

• Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential

  Optimum at 6-12 years after vintage