James Halliday Wine Companion 2023

95 / 100

“Fruit from the Dead Morris and Old Paulownia blocks. Cabernet co-fermented with 4.8% petit verdot. Matured for 18 months in French oak (52% new). The indefatigable fruit here is a solid match for the oak – at no point does it wither beneath the weight of it. This is a classically styled, almost old-school cabernet, but it has been handled with class. That fruit, as mentioned, is glorious. A beautiful wine which will no doubt age gracefully.”

August 2022

Wine Details

• Region Coonawarra, South Australia
• Vintage 2019
• Type Red Wine
• Variety Cabernet Sauvignon
• Volume 750ml
• Alcohol Volume 14.5%
• PH

  3.41 g/l

• Standard Drinks 8.6
• Acidity

  6.1 g/l

• Closure ScrewCap
• Background

  The Balnaves Coonawarra Vineyard was established in 1975, and is situated at the southern end of the Coonawarra Terra Rossa strip. The family, which has been associated with the district since 1855 and Doug, Annette, Kirsty and Pete Balnaves remains fully committed to a high level of ‘hands-on’ involvement.

• Vineyard Notes

  Vintage 2019 was cool and late ripening, with a burst of warm weather around Christmas. Cabernet Sauvignon was picked from our Dead Morris and Old Paulownia blocks (92.2%) and combined with Dunstan Petit Verdot (4.8%).

• Winemaking

  All ferments had a long maceration on skins then 18 months in new (52%) tight grained French oak prior to egg fining and bottling in November 2020

• Tasting Notes

  Dark red in colour, the nose is intense with bright blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with a touch of graphite and vanilla oak. The palate is solid with rich dark fruit, spice and lingering soft tannins, with balance and length. With age this wine will benefit from decanting.