Brand & Sons Nightfall The Balance Coonawarra Libra NV
- 94
- $80
- Drink by: 2025-2035
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As they say in the classics, and now for something completely different. A non-vintage red from Coonawarra, pretty much as close to a vinous unicorn as you could hope to find. When blending, it was felt that combining components from the various vintages simply made a better wine. It has material from 2022, 2023 and 2024 in it. The wine is also a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, all of which hail from a single vineyard. This is the sixth release of this wine. Crimson/maroon, this is finely crafted with notes of cloves, leather, mulberries, bergamot, plums, coffee grinds, cherries, bay leaves and cold tea. There is juicy acidity here, with tight, fine-grained tannins, balance and length, with impressive intensity. Expect it to provide pleasure for at least the next eight to ten years.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
