2022 Parker Estate Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra

Estate fruit. Maturation in (30% new) oak for 14 months. Blackberries on the bush, blackcurrants and juniper berries. Baked red clay, driftwood and dried bush greens. Bay leaf and caperberry. There is a crackle of dried leaves to the sound this wine gives out. It's as Australian as ’dry as a bone’. Cedar, tea brewing in a billy and all the nostalgia. Oak and saltbush are part of the fabric of the wine. Just splendid.

95 points Special Value Shanteh Wale for Halliday Wine Companion

Coonawarra's legendary terra rossa soil provides the foundation for Parker Estate's exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, where the iconic red earth over limestone creates ideal conditions for this noble variety. The region's cool climate and unique terroir produce wines of remarkable structure and longevity, with the distinctive iron rich soils imparting characteristic minerality and elegance. The 2022 vintage delivered optimal ripening conditions across Coonawarra, allowing Parker Estate to craft a Cabernet that showcases the appellation's renowned ability to produce world class expressions of this classic variety.

Deep garnet with purple edges, the wine reveals complex aromatics: blackcurrant, dark cherry and plum mingle with cedar, tobacco leaf and graphite. There's a distinctive eucalyptus note threading through it, hints of mint, bay leaf and dried herbs that speak to the Australian terroir, while subtle vanilla, mocha and dark chocolate from oak integration add richness. The palate is full bodied and powerfully structured, offering concentrated dark fruit flavors of cassis, blackberry and dark plum over firm, age worthy tannins. Balanced acidity provides backbone and freshness, driving a long finish marked by mineral, spice and persistent fruit that will evolve gracefully over decades.

Serve alongside Korean bulgogi with sesame and scallions, where the wine's dark fruit complements the caramelized beef beautifully, or try Moroccan lamb tagine with prunes and cinnamon that echoes its spice notes. The Cabernet pairs magnificently with chocolate mole enchiladas, kangaroo carpaccio with native pepperberry, or duck pancakes with hoisin and cucumber. Grilled octopus with harissa and chickpeas, venison tartare with juniper oil, or Turkish köfte with pomegranate molasses all match the wine's intensity. Fresh ricotta with honeycomb, spiced lamb kofta, or Brazilian feijoada provide compelling companions for this structured Coonawarra classic.