2021 Balnaves of Coonawarra The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml

98 Points - James Halliday Published 27 February 2024 "From a high-quality growing season with a long, even ripening period. Hand picked, with 9% petit verdot co-fermented with the cabernet and macerated on skins for 30 days. Matured for 13 months in the Rolls-Royce of oak: Taransaud barriques (39% new). Superb deep crimson-purple hue; the wine ranks with ’01 and ’04. While very intense, its perfect balance makes it light on its feet. Cassis in abundance leads the palate, pirouetting through the tannins on the lingering finish and aftertaste." The richly concentrated and fruit-forward Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a distinctive expression of the renowned terra rossa terroir, crafted from the finest vineyard parcels of the vintage. The refined tannins, characteristic of the local ironstone belt, provide the wine with an elegant and sinuous profile. Aged in a combination of new and seasoned French oak for 18 to 20 months, this wine showcases mulberry, blackberry, and dark liquorice flavors, accompanied by a delicate structure and intricate tannin expressions. It embodies the meticulous selection and unique terroir-driven character of the region.