Description
Hailing from Coonawarra, this is arguably Australia’s best cabernet.
Hailing from Coonawarra, this is arguably Australia’s best cabernet.
Owner, Doug Balnaves came up with the name – as a young bloke he was a shearer of merino Sheep. The Tally stands for Australian tradition, skill and hard work . Grown on the famous Terra Rossa strip and usually made up of 2 Vineyards, ‘Dead Morris’ and ‘Walker’. The grapes receive a long maceration on skins and spend about 20 months in French Oak. Only produced in the best years, the wine is initially always a very firm and tannic and has a maturation potential of more than 20 years.
Balnaves have declared this the best vintage since 2001. 2010 was cool and even, producing wines with beautiful focused fruit.
97 points, Nick Stock, The Good Wine Guide 2013 ..”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.”
95 points Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front “Fruit power, strength of tannin, fineness and finesse. It’s all here. Layers of blackcurrant and bay leaves, peppermint and rich dark plum. There’s a chocolatey/pencilly note here too but really, this presents as a seamless whole. The quality is outstanding. The length, the poise, the structural foundation. Tip-top Coonawarra cabernet.”
