2008 Balnaves of Coonawarra The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml

This wine is complex and tightly structured, made to cellar with confidence.

• 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.

• Winemaking

  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 Seguin Moreau, and Sylvain cooperages, before light egg fining and bottling in December 2009, under procork.

• Tasting Notes

  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. A richer warmer year with outstanding balance. Decant before drinking.