Balnaves Of Coonawarra

Bellwether

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Oodles of Coonawarra mint on the nose. The medium bodied palate shows blackberry, dark chocolate, and that same mint. If you ever wanted to know what an excellent Coonawarra Cabernet was like buy a bottle of this - it is textbook. Great winemaking from Sue Bell. Barb and I did vintage there in 2021. — a month ago

Rob, Rick and 11 others liked this

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Bought at the winery after tasting in 1999, my first pilgrimage to Coonawarra. Opened very stinky but blew off with air over 30 mins to beautiful fragrant nose and that sweet soft tannin of an aged Coonawarra Cabernet. Drank gloriously over the next two hours. Still full of life at 29 years old. — 7 months ago

Leconfield

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

A lovely full wine. Chocolate rounded flavours. Just the tiniest hint of powder. Blueberry sort of touches. Goes really well with Chocolate! — 5 years ago

Penfolds

Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

A multi region blend, fruit from Barossa, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Coonawarra, Robe and Wrattonbully vineyards. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits herb and tobacco spice. On the palate blackberry and currants with notes of cacao, espresso and herb pepper. Vivid acidity, ripe dusty tannins, long finish ending with vanilla and cedar spice, very nice! Will age for 10+ years! — 5 years ago

Sharon, Milissa and 6 others liked this

Balnaves of Coonawarra

The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

As per previous notes. Dense crimson in colour. Cedar, blackberry and geranium. To borrow HH’s phrase “effortless style”. Demonstrates why Coonawarra’s red dirt is marvellous for Cabernet. 96% Cabernet 4% Petit Verdot. The Tally is the top Cuvée from Balnaves. Rich, medium to full bodied. — 6 years ago

Severn, Ceccherini and 18 others liked this

Majella

The Musician Coonwarra Cabernet-Shiraz Blend 2015

Cab Shiraz is not a blend I seek out generally, but this wine has become a staple in our area thanks to its annual presence at the Vancouver International Wine Festival. It is, in fact, a very nice blend of red and black fruit with a high red plum note coming through most clearly for me. The shiraz offers smoothing here, I think, rather than any distinct spiciness. I guess in the way that merlot adds a grounding to a blend, but without the earthiness. This music is all up in the trees. There's even a light tree bark note that completes the analogy. Very nice! — 7 years ago

Koonara

Ambriel's Gift Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Pre release taste of the 2015 for the Cabernet Cellarbrations month.
Only 18 months in 100% new French bariques extremely approachable now but will live happily ever after.
— 8 years ago

Daniel P. and Ron liked this

Jacob's Creek/Orlando

Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

First impression of this wine is smooth. Full bodied with a smooth finish. Excellent wine. — 3 months ago

Petaluma

Coonawarra Cabernet-Merlot Blend 2004

About the fifth bottle of this I have opened and it was amazing due to a brilliant cork. So rich and luscious with glorious long sweet Coonawarra tannin. — 4 months ago

Katnook Estate

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Have finally found the secret to katnook! It needs a dozen years plus! This was a superb end to a debaucherous evening, and a perfect end. Rounded, full bodied with more of the potential that Katnook always promises but never quite delivers. — 4 years ago

Penfolds

Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

One of the most balanced, beautiful pours I’ve had in a very long time. — 5 years ago

Jim Barry

The Cover Drive Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

Delicious. Tasty. With hints of enjoyment. — 6 years ago

Rymill

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Adam B
9.5

One of my favourites so far. — 6 years ago

Bellwether

Tamar Valley Chardonnay 2012

Very pale lemon in colour. Tasted after the Premier Cru Hubert Lamy and similar in many ways - the texture, the acid, the citrus the subdued oak influence, but not as much minerality or salinity. Made by Sue Bell at her Bellwether winery in Coonawarra from Chardonnay grapes from the Tamar River in Tasmania. A good wine in the leaner style - showing the quality of Tasmanian Chardonnay. Consistent notes 88 weeks later on 9th December 2020. Chablisesque. Grapefruit notes. Still bracing acidity. — 7 years ago

Mark, barak heller and 8 others liked this

Penfolds

Bin 90A Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 1990

This was in rude health at 36 years of age. Would have held for at least a decade or two longer. But a wonderful time to be drinking it, with lively fruit and freshness still present along with secondary and tertiary complexities folded in. A gorgeous smooth ride across the palate, with fine and elegant tanning structure, dark fruit, savoury notes of olive tapenade, and a long, lingering finish. Perhaps even more time in decanter would have opened things up even more. — 2 months ago

Joel, Tom and 6 others liked this

St. Hugo

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

smooth taste, with a nice balance of sour notes and bitterness (in after sip) — a year ago

Penfolds

Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Dark red color. Intense nose of blackberry, dry plum, menthol, herbs. Has some freshness and depth at the opening. Develops into cherry, tobacco, vanilla, coffee and spices. The attack is very round, tannins are velvety the finish is more robust but bounces back some dark fruits. It feels like it is still young a could be even more enjoyable in the years to come. Outstanding Cabernet with power race but also subtlety and finesse — 5 years ago

Quarisa

Mrs Q Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Juicy aromas of plum and cherry...and a little spice.
Drinks nicely with juicy flavors of dark berries, cherry and oaky-spice. Lingers on the palate a bit and finishes with some spice.
— 5 years ago

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Coonawara Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Crimson with a Tawny rim showing its age. Mellow and resolved - round and soft at 17 years of age. Black Olive tapenade and chocolatey notes. Leading Australian Wine Scribe, James Halliday, describes Wynns Black Label Cabernet as “the most important Cabernet in Australia with a magnificent history “. The first vintage was 1954 and in a few months time when the 2018 is released it will be the 63rd. Amazing QPR - the current 2017 can be purchased for $31.90 AUD. The wine is matured in new (never more than 20%) and old French and American oak for between 12 and 18 months depending on vintage. — 6 years ago

Severn, Paul and 11 others liked this

Brand's Laira

Laira Vineyards Blockers Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Strong choc mint notes with tight acid.
The cork only just held together.
This was very tightly wound and if it wasn’t for the subpar closure could’ve lived for another 15 years.
Against the tasting last year on location that bottle must have been open for days to show such generous portions of the past.
Should have bought more, we live & learn.
— 7 years ago

Mark, Simon and 5 others liked this