2016 Balnaves The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Balnaves The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is the ultimate expression of the Balnaves family’s vineyards. 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.
After a warm Christmas preceding vintage 2016, the weather turned with very cool nights. Picked in late March, Cabernet Sauvignon from our Dead Morris vineyard (93.5%) was fermented with Dunstan Petit Verdot (6.5%). All fruit was handpicked and received a long maceration on skins for 16 months in 58% new fine-grained chateau barriques from Taransaud, Berger and Seguin Moreau cooperages, before light egg fining and bottling in December 2017, under procork.
Deep rich red in colour, the nose is perfumed with perfectly ripened wild blackberry, mulberry and cassis fruit, with a touch of fine vanilla/coffee bean French oak. The palate is layered with fleshy cassis and blackberry fruit. The finish is long and textured with fine grainy grape tannins. This wine is complex and tightly structured and built to cellar with confidence. – Jacinta Jenkins