Distinguished Langtons Classification. Doug and Emma Bowen hold a very strong belief in the hand pruning of vines. Such old fashioned care improves evenness of budburst, bunch exposure and ripeness, for restricted yields of the most intensely flavoured Cabernet grapes. A holistic management of the soils is crucial, all plantings are closely husbanded and individually managed, local fauna is encouraged to be a part of the ecosystem. It is this painstaking nurture of the vine which translates into an enduring quality of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

Excellent Langtons Classification. Exclusively estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, one of Coonawarra's finest. The low yielding vineyard, planted to the magical Terra rossa soils, is dry grown and hand arch cane pruned, it traditionally yields limited crops of intensely flavoured fruit. Skilled use of traditional oaking techniques achieves a wine that's integrated and seamless, as delicate fine grain French oak supports the essential Coonawarra characters of violets and bramble berry, scorched earth and blueberry cassis perfumes.

Doug Balnaves was a shearer of Merino sheep, recording his count in the tally book to be paid by the number he had sheared. He now counts down the days until vintage, as with all releases of Tally Cabernet Sauvignon, it is the harmony and fine balance which are the outstanding features. A perfectly perfumed Coonawarra bouquet, brambleberry and dark cassis, elderberry, violets and mint. Its unbridled elegance and extraordinary length of palate, fragrant of coffee and oreo oak, supported by the finest grain tannins. Opulent yet refined, be advised, decant the Tally and breathe before service.

The Balnave vineyards are endowed with some spectacular clones, a hectare each of Entav 338 and 412 Cabernet, Entav 181 Merlot, D3V14 Merlot and a preponderance of the splendid Reynella Cabernet Sauvignon. A further planting of the cavalier Petit Verdot contributes an essential component to the final assemblage. Fruit is treated to cold soaks and inoculation in a large open top fermenter, followed by a spell in new Francois Freres Allier oak barrels. Beautifully perfumed of blueberries, violets and florid cherry ripe, an exhilarating red wine style to accompany cold duck or quail, prosciutto or jamon.

Fully inspired by the guidance of Coonawarra patriarch Bill Redman, Doug Balnaves planted two and a half hectares of Shiraz to the rich red terra rosa soils along Riddoch Highway in the 1970s. Crafted from these veteran parcels of low yielding, old vine Shiraz, a harvest of hand sorted berries, with a measure of whole bunches, are filled into open top vessels for a week of ferments, followed by a year in good French oak. Perfumed of wild brambleberry, cherries and jube, its fleshy plum fruit richness and piquancy of black pepper spice, lingering to the end of a fine grain tannin finish.

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.

The Balnave vineyards are divided into small blocks of between one and two hectares, the character of each can be quite unique. The final assemblage of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is a compilation of selected rows off the estate's Walker, Quarry and Dead Morris blocks, treated to varying regimens of oak barrel ferments and extended macerations. Fragrant of cassis, blueberry fruit and fine cedary oak, the finished Balnave Cabernet Merlot has spent sixteen months maturing in a luxuriously high proportion of tight grain French oak barrels from Seguin Moreau and St Martin cooperages.