Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

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 the Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon and in outstanding years, the Balnaves The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  

"Picture of composure. Beautiful cabernet. A real cabernet for real cabernet lovers.”  Campbell Mattinson

The 2004 Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from four blocks; the Walker (56%), Dead Morris (41%), Quarry (2.5%) and Rise Vineyards (0.5%). 44% was barrel fermented while 23% had an extended maceration. This wine spent 20 months in tight-grained French oak from Seguin Moreau, Taransaud and Saury and Remond cooperages.

"Vintage 2004 was cool and late ripening, producing medium bodied wines with good depth of complex mineral, blackberry fruit and firm tannins. The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is mid-dark in colour with a red tint. It has lifted sweet vanillan oak, the nose has milk coffee aromas and perfumed dark fruit. Slight jube note. It has a full rich palate, deep fruit and linear feel to the palate with a firm tannin finish with slight astringent tannins. Elegant cool vintage style tight structure. Hold or drink now."  Balnaves

Expert reviews

"Searingly intense, long and seamless, this superbly structured and balanced cabernet marries piercing berry, cherry and plum-like fruit with cedar/chocolate oak and a firm, drying spine of chalky tannin. Scented with slightly minty nuances of violets and dried herbs, it's ripe, lavish and savoury, without a hint of over-ripeness. A great bargain and a genuine standby in case you can't get The Tally from the same vintage. Drink 2016-2024."  Jeremy Oliver - 95 points

"Tasted April 2007 I tasted the 2004 Tally (Flagship) by Balnaves at Wine Australia last year and was blown away, but this wine is no poor cousin. It's tight and dry but packed with rich blackcurrant flavour and framed by perfectly sculptured tannins. Reeks of class, and with enough interest to keep you coming back for another sniff and swirl. The 2004 vintage offerings from Balnaves are right on the money. Buy up. Drink: 2010-2016."  Grant Dodd, The Wining Pro – 94+ points

"Typical colour of the Balnaves '04 reds; very concentrated, dense, full-bodied blackcurrant/blackberry fruit, with long, lingering tannins; high quality oak in restrained support. Drink Now-2024."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 94 points

"Cabernet sauvignon continued its long, John Wayne-like canter back into town, sometimes riding alone, sometimes with a few pals. The standout was the 2004 Balnaves The Tally Cabernet Sauvignon ($85). There should be a few bottles around. If you miss out, they're about to release the standard bottling 2004 Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon ($33), available early in 2007. It is also a terrific rendition."  Nick Stock, The Adelaide Review

"I don't think I have tucked into a Balnaves cabernet since the excellent 99 vintage but this is certainly right up there. I sometimes think we don't quite realise how good we have it when you can plonk down thirty dollars (or less) and come away with a wine of this quality. If you want value, terroir and cellarability then look no further.

Aromas of cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate, tobacco, violet, mint and cedar oak. On the palate full bodied with lush cassis, blackberry, dark mint chocolate and some savoury tobacco characters. Plenty of very firm but fine grained grippy tannin. Clean fresh acidity to balance. Long dry savoury black olive finish. Big points. Big wine. Drink: 2009 – 2020."  Gary Walsh, Winorama - 94 points

"Picture of composure. Beautiful cabernet. Classic, dry, mouthfilling structure, essency blackcurrant fruit, integrated oak and a resounding finish. This will age long term – and really needs to be cellared. A real cabernet for real cabernet lovers. Drink: 2013-2020."  Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 93 points

About the winery

Balnaves of Coonawarra is a small family-owned winery, in the heart of the Coonawarra Wine Region. Doug Balnaves established the vineyard in 1975 and 2.5 ha of Cabernet Sauvignon and 2.5 ha of Shiraz were planted on the rich terra rossa soils. Since those first plantings the Balnaves vineyards have grown steadily and today Balnaves have over 70ha of high-quality estate vineyards.

In 1990 siblings Kirsty and Pete Balnaves joined the family company and the first Balnaves wines were produced on a contract basis at a neighbouring winery. These days, Doug is General Manager, while Kirsty is the Business Manager and Peter runs the vineyard. In 1995 the family was joined by winemaker Pete Bissell and in 1996 their state-of-the-art 1000 tonne winery, designed and supervised by Pete, was completed.  

In 1998 the first vintage of their flagship wine, the Balnaves The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was produced. The 2004 Tally won Jeremy Oliver's Wine of the Year in 2007. In 2008 the winery was named James Halliday's Winery of the Year and they have been awarded five stars by Halliday for 17 consecutive years. 

Balnaves' success has in no small part been due to Pete Bissell, who celebrated 25 years as senior winemaker in 2020. Pete received numerous accolades over that time, including winning the Qantas/Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year in 2005. Pete retired in July 2020 and assistant Winemaker Jacinta Jenkins took over as Senior Winemaker.