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Coonawarra graziers have access to the finest soils for viticulture. Doug Balnaves was born in the very heart of Coonawarra, quite near the sacred cricket pitch at Penola. An accomplished herdsman and shearer, Balnaves took up the challenge of planting vineyards in 1971. Working under the tutelage of legendary Coonawarra winemaker Bill Redman, Balnaves immersed himself in the culture of the vine, ultimately establishing a grande marque of Coonawarra and securing the inaugural presidency of the Coonawarra Vignerons Association. He remains a lifelong member of the Penola Pipe Band. For those who like their wines structured yet satin, powerful yet prettily perfumed, in the mouthfillingly muscular Coonawarra way, the Balnaves brand endures in the tradition of world class vintages grown to Terra Rosa soils, enriched by generations of happy and healthy Coonawarra sheep.. The old sheep shearer's shanty»

Brands Laira Coonawarra Cabernet 2013 CONFIRM 2013 VINTAGE

Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra South Australia
McWilliams have long expressed an affinity for the unique red earth soils which consistently yield the big boned, statuesque style of Australian red wine. Plant a six inch nail, water it and in a year you will have a crowbar! said John James McWilliam when he surveyed the ferrous red soils of Hanwood in 1913. Today, McWilliams own and operate many of the most salubrious terra rosa sites in Coonawarra, retaining the pick of the crop, for a pure Cabernet wine from the prestigious Laira Vineyard.
The rich red soils and moderate maritime climes of Coonawarra enthuse the vines into a complete ripening fruit, for wines which are characterized by rich intense flavours, sound structure and long lived tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon is picked throughout the early hours of morning for the retention of intense aromatics and rich varietal flavours. Grapes are crushed and then fermented for up to ten days, before being pressed off into a selection of new and seasoned oak barrels for completion of malolactic. Ten months maturation is followed by a rigorous barrel selection to assemble a final wine of fine tannin structure, aromatic complexity and long silky finish.
Vibrant bright crimson red with deep purple hues. Lifted perfumed nose of blackcurrant and mulberries, followed up by a lingering spice chocolate oak notes. Rich blackcurrant, blackberry fruit flavours are upfront, seasoned by hints of nutmeg oak. Firm but pliant tannins provide the classical Coonawarra framework, Brands Laira finishes on a length of lingering chocolate oak characters, velvety tannins and a measure of elegance.
Brands Laira
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Brands Laira
The Laira Vineyard was established in 1893 on the Coonawarra’s famous terra rossa heartland

Brands Laira is today widely regarded as one of the region’s best plantings of Shiraz. With Shiraz being the only wine grape planted in Coonawarra from 1900 to 1950, the variety has played an important role in establishing Coonawarra’s international reputation as Australia’s pre-eminent red wine region.

Brands Laira

Eric and Nancy Brand purchased the Laira Vineyard and adjoining property in 1946; and over the next decade extended the vineyard to 23 hectares of vines. The first wine sold under the Laira label was released in 1966. Fruit from this century-old Original Vineyard is still used today in the production of the Brand’s of Coonawarra Stentiford’s Reserve and Patron’s Reserve.

McWilliam’s Wines purchased a 50 per cent share of the Brand’s Estate in 1990 and the remaining 50 per cent in 1994, with Eric and Nancy’s sons Jim and Bill Brand retained as winemakers. McWilliam’s Wines is today one of the largest landholders in Coonawarra, with almost 300 hectares of mainly cabernet sauvignon and shiraz vines. In recent years the company has extended the Estate to include the 165 hectare Station Block and 100 hectare Kirkgate vineyards.

Brands Laira

Brands Laira