2021 Balnaves of Coonawarra The Blend, Coonawarra

This is 50% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 10% petit verdot; matured in 13% new French oak for 11 months. Blackcurrant, tonka bean and wet coffee grinds. A touch of violet and cassis. Nigella seed, clove and black pepper. Oak gathers the deeply dense black fruit in its embrace, and the wine concludes with a tailored dry finish. Plush and well structured.

93 points Special Value Shanteh Wale winecompanion.com.au

Balnaves of Coonawarra The Blend is a beautiful snapshot of one of Australia’s great red wine regions, grown on the famous terra rossa soils that lie over free draining limestone in the heart of Coonawarra. These iron rich red clays are legendary for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, giving wines their distinctive mix of dark fruit, fine tannin and graphite like structure. The Balnaves family has farmed here since the 1970s, with winemaker John Balnaves earning a reputation for crafting wines of elegance and longevity rather than sheer power. The Blend is drawn from some of the estate’s best parcels, usually combining Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot to express both the strength and the finesse of this remarkable strip of land.

The wine shows a deep crimson colour with purple edges, opening with aromas of blackcurrant, plum, cedar, bay leaf and subtle mint that are hallmarks of great Coonawarra. On the palate it is layered and harmonious, weaving together ripe cassis, dark cherry, mocha and gentle spice with beautifully polished tannins and a long, savoury finish. It feels generous without being heavy, making it perfect with roast lamb, rib eye steak, slow cooked beef or mushroom based dishes. With time in the cellar it only gets better, comfortably aging for ten to fifteen years as the fruit deepens and the earthy, tobacco and leather notes start to emerge.