Pulled out a cracker from The Cellar (my wine fridge) to go with our lamb roast. As a single-ish income family with a kid, rack of lamb, a new release and a shit-hot wine is as good as it gets – and tonight is unreal.
The wine: Balnaves ‘The Tally’ Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Coonawarra, SA. It’s been in my Cellar for about two years but it feels like longer.
Colour: Ruby colour, no hint of youthful violet but not turning garnet yet. Throwing some sediment. Rich, star-bright.
Nose: Coonawarra Cabernet all the way. My first thought was Coonawarra rather than any particular character. Shows classic cassis and mint with tobacco, chocolate, blackberry and mint.
Palate: Rounded entry shows incredible suppleness in its mouthfeel, which opens up to a medium-bodied ripe wine showing medium acidity, medium-full tannin and medium-full intensity. Cigarbox spices underpin ripe blackcurrant, red cherry and blueberry notes. Seemless integration of oak and fruit. Acidity is in perfect balance with the still firm tannins. Sensational length. This is one of the best wines I’ve opened at home for a long time.
The Verdict: With great ripeness this wine just makes me think in terms of New World vs Old World. There is no way France could ever produce a wine like this.
But.
I’m not sure that this is where my tastes are any more. There is no questioning the power, intensity or balance of this wine. At this time in its life it’s showing beautiful balance between oak, acid, fruit and alcohol but it’s not what I’m interested in any more. I’ll still savour this wine, but don’t think I’ll be spending this kind of money ($100 two years ago) on Aussie wine.
