Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon 2005Wine Business Monthly (WBM) Top 100 Wines of 2008 The Balnaves vineyard comprises twelve blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon vines of varying acreage and vine age, the oldest planted in 1975. These blocks are divided again into smaller parcels of between one and two hectares, following soil types and topography, with approximately forty Cabernet Sauvignon fermentations being conducted each vintage. The best of these ferments are set aside during vintage for

concentrated dark red fruits

spice and pepper flavours bound by French oak

It’s ripe and fleshy

this wine is grown at three sites at Bannockburn and matured in French oak barriques (with limited new oak)

7 hectare Elms vineyard was selected by Stewart Elms in 1991 and planted the following year

It has presence and concentration but it's also quite understated

After a vintage in Burgundy

mineral and a trademark savoury/herb character

"Ask any Master of Wine where the world’s best cabernet comes from and I suspect that most will tell you that it’s the left bank of the Gironde River in Bordeaux in France – but ask a parochial Aussie aficionado and I reckon that many will tell you to look for wines from the Wilyabrup sub-region in the Sandgroper’s premier cabernet district

something of a thyme/lavender garden perfume going on too

0 is an Australian classic with an impressive pedigree of nearly 150 vintages

Nebbiolo is only planted on the hills at an altitude above 250m