"The Balnaves family, Coonawarra and Cabernet Sauvignon are concentric circles, indivisible from one another,” declares James Halliday. So true: they’re Coonawarra to the core. Doug Balnaves and children Kirsty and Pete were all born in Penola and the winery sits at the heart of the famous Terra Rossa strip, where Doug started planting vines in 1976. Former Qantas Winemaker of the Year Pete Bissell is the other essential piece of the puzzle, helping this producer to the title of James Halliday Winery of the Year in 2008. 

Dark red in colour, the nose is intense with aromas of mulberry, wild blackberry and liquorice combined with delicate smoky-coffee French oak. The palate is medium bodied with a soft round Merlot mouth- feel, black fruit flavours and a touch of dried herbs. This wine will reward careful cellaring, and decant before drinking.