2020 Balnaves of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra

Cabernet sauvignon co-fermented with 11% petit verdot, with extended time on skins. Matured for 13 months in 54% new French oak barriques. This wine is perfectly structured and flavoured. Blackcurrant, dark chocolate, bay leaf and violet flavours come threaded with tobacco and assorted fragrant herbs. It's all built on tannin, in a way, and yet regardless the fruit flavours flood straight through, like a wave. Stand atop the bow of this wine, peer out towards the horizon, and that's where this wine's future lies

96 points Special Value Campbell Mattinson winecompanion.com.au

Balnaves of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon is a benchmark wine from one of Coonawarra’s most respected family-owned estates. The Balnaves family has been growing grapes in the heart of the famed terra rossa strip since the 1970s, and their estate-grown Cabernet has become synonymous with intensity, structure, and regional precision. Winemaker Pete Bissell, formerly of Wynns and a driving force behind Coonawarra’s modern reputation, brings a wealth of experience and a hands-off philosophy that lets the vineyard do the talking.

This Cabernet is sourced from low-yielding vines planted on the region’s iconic red soils over limestone. Meticulous viticulture ensures exceptional fruit quality, which is then fermented in small batches and matured in a mix of French oak barriques—some new, most seasoned—for up to 18 months.

Aromatically, it delivers layers of blackcurrant, dark cherry, tobacco leaf and dried herbs, with subtle cedar and pencil shaving from the oak. The palate is powerful yet refined, with firm but ripe tannins, classic Coonawarra freshness and a long, savoury finish. There's both polish and depth here, making it a Cabernet that rewards cellaring but is also deeply satisfying in its youth.

It’s a brilliant match for roast lamb, beef short ribs, aged cheddar or even a rich lentil and mushroom stew. Complex, age-worthy and proudly regional, this is classic Coonawarra done right.