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William James Maxwell was an architectural sculptor who migrated from Scotland to Australia in 1875. He built a mock castle and established a family vineyard just outside Adelaide, which he named Woodlands Park. His son planted vines in nearby McLaren Vale and his grandson served a term as winemaker for Hardy Wines at the historic Tintara wineworks. William Maxwell's progeny remain in McLaren Vale, producing the southern hemisphere's most successful brands of Honey Mead, as well as vintages of the most extraordinary value in McLaren Vale Shiraz. But what does Maxwell taste like? Gentleman James Halliday describes Maxwell as robust, picking the eyes out of McLaren Vale shiraz; licorice, dark chocolate, savoury firm, ripe tannins, blackberry, positive oak the icing on the cake. Terrific value. Oh yes, he suggests that it should be enjoyed by.. Made of mature vine mclaren vale »
Rolf Binder is one of the Barossa's quiet achieving superstars, recipient of the most conspicuous national accolades, Barossa Winemaker of Year and Best Small Producer, Best Barossa Shiraz Trophy and coveted listing in the illustrious Langtons Classification of Australian Wine. Binder's focus has always been on old vines fruit, in particular, the abstruse canon of early settler varietals which populated Barossa Valley during the 1840s. Wild bush vines Mataro, picked off patches at Tanunda along Langmeil Road, ancient growths of Grenache from Gomersal and Light Pass. Rolf's tour de force are eight superlative rows of Shiraz, established 1972 by the Binders junior and senior, which yield a mere 250 dozen of the most spectacular, full bodied Barossa flagship. The profound opulence of Rolf Binder's Hanisch is matched in no lesser way by the sublime excellence of the estate's.. Seven decades of tillage at tanunda»

Balnaves Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon CONFIRM VINTAGE

Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra South Australia
Vintages of Balnaves have been selected on five occasions at the prestigious Coonawarra Barrel Series, the region's most eminent, industry insider's wine taste off. There's a strong synergy between grazing and viticulture, Doug Balnaves knows about both. He managed sheep before taking up a career as a grower, he now plays a senior role in many of South Australia's principal wine industry associations. His vineyards yield the finest Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and his fruit is crafted by one of the nation's most peer respected winemakers.
Available in cartons of six
Case of 6
$227.50
Deep rich red in colour. Intense nose with aromas of cassis, liquorice and elderberry/ blue berry notes over subtle vanillan oak, showing cooler, more savoury characters. The palate is quite fine and elegant with ripe cassis/ seaweed fruit before a long and fine tannin finish. A deeply satisfying Coonawarra Cabernet upon release, Balnave will also reward careful cellaring. In either case a decant is recommended before service.
Balnaves
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Balnaves
Balnaves are a small but very proud wine family owned wine company in the heart of the famous Coonawarra Terra Rossa strip

Since the planting of the first 5 hectares of vines in 1976, the vineyard has grown steadily and now covers a total of 56 hectares of Coonawarra Terra Rossa soil. The principal variety planted is Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for 70% of the area whilst the addition of Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Chardonnay make up the total vineyard area of 58 hectares.

Balnaves

The Balnaves first wines were made on a contract basis at a neighbouring winery in 1990. The operations soon overtook the existing facility and a striking new 600 tonne winery was built and in operation for the 1996 vintage. To build an expandable winery and barrel storage facility, designed to be in harmony with the surrounding viticultural envelope through seasonal change. The winery was to complement the cellar door and had to be a striking visual element of deliberate form and colour as an enhancement to the landscape.

The vineyard is divided into small blocks of between one and two hectares, which take into account depth of soil, trellis design, vine clone and row direction. The quality of wine produced from these small blocks is evaluated each year and recorded. This practice proves the validity of the French concept of terroir, the effect that microclimate; geological features and other factors have on the quality of the wine produced. Such effects are clearly seen in the small Balnaves vineyard at Coonawarra.

Doug Balnave's initial working life was spent in the sheep industry until he became involved with wine production in 1971 when he was offered the position of Development Manager of the vineyard to be developed in Coonawarra by Hungerford Hill. After 17 years with Hungerford Hill he left that company to establish a vineyard development and management company in 1988.

Balnaves

Doug Balnave has been involved in various state and local bodies representing the wine industry including SA Wine & Brandy Association, Limestone Coast Wine Industry Council, Phylloxera Board and inaugural President of the Coonawarra Vignerons Association. He is an active member of the Penola Pipe Band and past president of the Coonawarra Guinea Pig Racing Association.

The Balnaves winery's awards are testament to the commitment to quality and never ending quest to produce the best wines. The Balnaves winemaking team are led by Qantas/Gourmet Traveller winemaker of the year for 2005/2006 Peter Bissell, his passion for wine is evident in every wine he produces.

Peter has spent a year and a half in France working as assistant oenologist for A Moueix et Fils in Libourne who owns Ch. Fonplegade (St Emilion) and Chateau Moulinet (Pomerol), amongst others. He also worked in the laboratory and tasting rooms outside vintage and in the cellars during the 1985 vintage. Peter worked the 1987 vintage with Adam Wynn at Mountadam, then with Gerry Sissingh at Lindemans Hunter River, John Vickey at Leo Burings and Andrew Pirie at Pipers Brook in 1988.

Peter was appointed Wynns winemaker in 1989 working at Wynns Coonawarra Estate with Peter Douglas until 1995. Peter did vintages as a flying winemaker for Penfolds in Russia (1993), for the Laperouse project in the South of France (1994), worked in the Coteaux de Languedoc and visited Bordeaux in 2000. Peter Bissell has also judged at the Hyatt, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley the Riverina wine shows.

The winery's featured bell tower, which acts as a local beacon for visitors as well as offering an unprecedented panorama over the Coonawarra Vineyards has won a number of design awawrds. To complete the vision, a wine maker with passion and skill Peter Bissell, join the Belnaves in 1995 as the company winemaker. It is a partnership that has flourished and as a result Balnaves wines have won many awards, the most recent and exciting being Peter Bissell winning the Qantas/Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the year award. Well done Pete, the team is very proud of you.

Balnaves