2021 Parker Estate First Growth, Coonawarra

Parker Estate First Growth from Coonawarra is a flagship Cabernet Sauvignon blend that has earned its place among Australia’s most revered wines. First released in the early 1990s, it was inspired by the structure and longevity of Bordeaux’s top châteaux but speaks proudly of its Coonawarra roots. Sourced from the estate’s oldest vines growing on the famed terra rossa soils, this wine is crafted with precision, power and cellar potential in mind.

Winemaker Andrew Hardy carefully selects parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon, often blended with touches of Merlot or Petit Verdot depending on the vintage. After fermentation in small open fermenters, the wine spends up to two years in 100 percent new French oak barriques, building both complexity and stature.

In the glass, First Growth is deeply aromatic, showing blackcurrant, blackberry, tobacco, graphite and fine cedar. The palate is powerful yet composed, with layers of cassis, dark chocolate and savoury spice wrapped in firm tannins and vibrant natural acidity. It's a wine of presence and polish, built to age gracefully for two decades or more.

Serve it with dry-aged beef, lamb shanks, truffled mushroom dishes or aged cheddar. Decant in its youth or cellar for long-term reward.