Since the initial planting of vines, Balnaves vineyard has grown steadily and now covers a total of fifty six hectares of choice Coonawarra Terra Rossa, principally to Cabernet. The vineyard is divided into small blocks of between one and two hectares, the quality of wine from each block is evaluated each year and recorded. The final assemblage carries wines from the Dead Morris and Quarry blocks. Components were treated to barrel fermentation and/or an extended period of maceration. Balnave Cabernet has spent sixteen months maturing in a combination of tight grain French oak barrels from the Seguin Moreau, Saury, Taransaud and St Martin cooperages, before fining and bottling 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. A deeply satisfying wine upon release, Balnave will reward careful cellaring. In either case a decant is recommended before service. Winery notes.

Bright purple-crimson; a more classic Balnaves style, although very intense and long; cassis and blackcurrant fruit has an intriguing web of spice, briar and leather underlying the primary fruit; it has literally devoured the French oak in which it spent 16 months, and has excellent tannins. ProCork. 14.5% alc. Rating 95 Points; Drink 2033 $35 Date Tasted Mar 10; James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011

Rich smelling wine, but has a certain freshness and vigour, which from what I’ve tasted to date, seems be a trait of the 2008 Coonawarra vintage. Fruit profile would best be described as being like blackberries and dark cherries and there’s dark chocolate, toasty spiced vanilla oak with a little mint and sweet leather. Full bodied, but fresh and lively (perhaps too much so at this stage as the acidity looks a bit too enthusiastic and nippy), with positive structural fine grained tannins and plenty of length - no holes along the way. Needs time for the acidity to settle (and I wish there was less of it) but, minor quibbles aside, an impressive wine nonetheless.  Drink : 2014 - 2020+ 93 POINTS Gary Walsh, The Wine Front