Parker Coonawarra Estate First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Product Information: Old school claret. First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon is only crafted in years when the growing season produces exceptional fruit quality, and when a particular vintage has the potential to age beyond 15 years. This is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the ‘Abbey’ vineyard. The fruit for the 2020 First Growth was fermented in a 9T closed-static- fermenter for 40 days (fermentation lasting 12 days before the parcels were topped and sealed for a further 28 day). This extended maceration encourages tannin structure and increases ageing potential. After time on skins the wine was pressed to 80% new oak barriques sourced from renowned cooperages Seguin Moreau, D’Aquitaine, Louis Latour and Francois Freres. The wine continues to mature in oak for 18 months to create fine grained tannins and produce a tightly structured wine with the potential to improve with correct cellaring in excess of 20 years. Maker: John Parker established Hungerford Hill Wines in the Hunter Valley in 1968 and later identified the best locations on Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa strip to establish a vineyard and winery with Doug Balnaves. They planted their first vines on the 50 hectares property purchased from the Abbey family in 1985, which was sourced from the 19th Century-planted vines at Reynella. The inaugural 1988 of First Growth established Parker Estate’s reputation for producing wines of outstanding quality and longevity. Parker Estate has achieved numerous wine show medals, trophies, and accolades, including a Five Star rating by James Halliday, and in 2010, Parker’s ‘First Growth’ entered the Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine as ‘Excellent’. Vineyard: The Parker Estate ‘Abbey’ vineyard is located on the southern end of the region’s famous strip of terra rossa soil and is predominantly planted to Reynell Selection Cabernet Sauvignon – original cuttings from Bordeaux. These vines, planted in 1985, are the backbone of our First Growth. Our region benefits from the cooling influence of the Southern Ocean, so we enjoy an extended ripening period which gives wonderful fruit expression, depth and complexity. Nose – Cassis, Dried Herbs, Cigar Box Blackcurrant, redcurrant, quite leafy with a chopped red capsicum spiciness, mint leaf, and ginger biscuit oak. Palate – Blackberry, Redcurrant, Licorice It’s medium-bodied, quite developed and squishy fruited, though it does have a sort of charming herbal, leafy. Finish – Leaf-litter, Tomato Consommé, Mint Leaf Sweet-fruited sense of decay, some tomato consommé, spice in the background. Blackcurrant, redcurrant, quite leafy with a chopped red capsicum spiciness, mint leaf, and ginger biscuit oak. It’s medium-bodied, quite developed and squishy fruited, though it does have a sort of charming herbal, leafy and sweet-fruited sense of decay, some tomato consommé flavour too. Don’t mind me, but this kind of harks back to Coonawarra Cabernet of decades back. Some grainy tannin offers grip on a finish of solid length. Curious wine, yet I quite like it. – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, 94 Points. The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Cabernet Sauvignon Country – Australia Region – Coonawarra, South Australia Vintage – 2020 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 14.5%