2018 Balnaves Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon South Australia – buy online

WHO?

Balnaves is the brightest jewel in the crown of Coonawarra. Founded in the early 1970s as a family winery, Balnaves is one of the few independent producers in the region. Doug Balnaves owns 48 hectares of vineyards, including some of the best microsites. Their mission is the consistent production of premium wines made from grapes grown in their own vineyards, reflecting the unique aromas, flavors, and character of this undoubtedly most famous terroir in Australia.

WHERE?

The vineyards are located on the southern edge of the renowned Coonawarra ‘Terra Rossa’ strip (distinctively red-colored, iron-rich soil), with Cabernet Sauvignon accounting for 70% of the planted areas. The vineyards are divided into small blocks of 1-2 hectares. The quality of wine produced from these blocks is evaluated and recorded every year. Balnaves claims that this practice demonstrates how microclimate and geological features have a crucial impact on the quality and distinctiveness of each vintage.

WHY?

Coonawarra at its zenith. If you look up ‘Coonawarra Cabernet’ in your wine literature, the image of this wine should stand beside its definition. Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon embodies everything that makes it almost a cult wine of the region. Strong yet restrained temperament, seductive yet authoritative, a wine destined for a distant future and evolution in the bottle. The 2012 vintage has unanimously been declared by producers and critics alike as a collector’s item.