James Halliday’s Top 100 2023

98%

“Includes 9% petit Verdot. On skins for 30 days; matured for 13 months in Taransaud barriques (39% new). While very intense, its perfect balance makes it light on its feet. Cassis in abundance leads the palate, pirouetting through the tannins on the lingering finish."

November 2023

Wine Details

• Region Coonawarra, South Australia
• Vintage 2021
• Type Red Wine
• Variety Cabernet Sauvignon
• Volume 750ml
• Alcohol Volume 14.5%
• PH

  3.50 g/l

• Standard Drinks 8.6
• Acidity

  6.9 g/l

• Closure ScrewCap
• 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

  2021 was an outstanding vintage, with long and even ripening period ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon. On the 12th of April, Cabernet Sauvignon from out Dead Morris vineyard (91%) was hand-picked and co-fermented with 9% Petit Verdot, with an extended maceration on skins for 30 days. The wine was then matured for 13 months in 39% new fine grain Taransaud French oak barriques.

• Tasting Notes

  Intense aromas of cassis, blackberries and blueberries carry through onto the palate, this dense dark fruit integrates with velvet tannins and smoky coffee oak. A complex and layered wine with great length, 2021 was a superb vintage reminiscent of 2004 and 2001

• Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential

  Optimum at 10-12 years after vintage

• Food Matches

  Enjoy with char-grilled scotch fillet paired with broccolini, roasted carrot and crispy hasselback potatoes with a rich red wine jus.