2019 Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon

Highly Rated
Top class Coonawarra Cabernet from one of the region's icons.
5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
1 Review

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Sale price$35.00
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Description

If you looked up Coonawarra Cabernet in the dictionary, there could well be a picture of this wine cut and pasted in.

Sourced primarily from the Dead Morris and Old Paulownia blocks, with a touch of Petit Verdot for added complexity, this vintage captures the essence of classic Coonawarra Cabernet. A cool growing season with late ripening, balanced by a warm burst around Christmas, allowed the fruit to develop a remarkable depth of flavour while retaining its hallmark freshness.

This Cabernet spent 18 months maturing in tight-grained French oak, over half of which was new, lending the wine its fine mocha-coffee nuances and a solid tannin structure. Expect an intense bouquet of cassis, violets, and blackberry, with underlying notes of graphite and vanilla oak. The palate delivers a rich tapestry of dark fruits and spice, all wrapped up in finely tuned tannins that promise graceful ageing.

A classic Coonawarra Cabernet and a beautiful one at that. Drink now or cellar with confidence.

95 points
"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."
- Erin Larkin (Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points
"What I like about this most, is its thick ferrous tannin, kind of imperious in nature, if you take my meaning. Acidity is balanced, there’s choc-cherry and blackcurrant flavour aplenty, and the finish is long and firm. Excellent."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

95 points - "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." - Erin Larkin (Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points - "Black fruit, tobacco, cocoa and vanilla, some mint, slight floral top note, even some liquorice and spice. It does show some mocha vanilla oak, but it sits well within the wine, and what I like about this most, is its thick ferrous tannin, kind of imperious in nature, if you take my meaning. Acidity is balanced, there’s choc-cherry and blackcurrant flavour aplenty, and the finish is long and firm. Excellent." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

Customer Reviews

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 1 review
Total 5 star reviews: 1 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
1 review
  • EG
    Emmely G.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    1 year ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2018 Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon
    Reviewing
    2018 Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Stunning wine

    What a delightful wine.

    Everything you want from a Cabernet Sauvignon. We had it with Christmas lunch and everyone was in love with it.

Reviews LoadedReviews Added

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.

Price Bracket $41 to $50
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Cabernet Sauvignon
Country Australia
Region Coonawarra
Australian State SA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
The Wine Front
Critic Score 95
94
Size 750ml
Vintage 2019
Closure Screw Cap

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