JM 1ST APPROACH

Vintage 2009 was marked by a heat wave in January followed by a mild summer and autumn. Blended from equal volumes of our Dead Morris and Walker vineyards, this wine spent 16 months in tight grain French oak, 76% new, from Seguin Moreau and St Martin cooperages, before egg white fining bottling in December 2010, under Procork.

Deep rich red in colour, the nose is intense with aromas of cassis, liquorice and elderberry/ blue berry notes, again showing cooler vintage more savoury character, reflecting the growing conditions. The palate is quite fine and elegant with ripe cassis-seaweed fruit and fine-tannin finish. We made a reduced volume of Cabernet this year to maintain the level of quality. This wine will reward careful cellaring, and we recommend decanting before drinking.

Blackcurrant, blackberry, tobacco, chocolate and vanilla with a little mint and violet perfume. There’s a slight resinous character to the oak, but it settles, and the specs tell me it’s all from super high quality coopers. Full bodied with terrific structure and shape – fine spread of powdery tannin and high acidity – a slot car race of a palate. Length is excellent too. Looking good now, but with more shiny bits to come in the future. If you like your Balnaves, then this is an excellent release. Rated : 94+ Points Winefront.com.au

The strong purple-crimson colour signals no problems yet, the rich bouquet and medium- to full-bodied palate bursting with intense, perfectly ripened blackcurrant fruit; despite 19 months in quality French oak, it is this fruit, and the well-weighted tannins, which are the primary drivers. 95 points James Halliday