2021 Parker Estate First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon

First Growth is the flagship – the top-of-the-tree Cabernet from Parker Estate, and one that’s built its reputation over decades as one of the most consistent high-performers out of Coonawarra. The 2021 vintage is a beauty. Cooler conditions brought freshness and perfume, but there’s still all the depth and classic structure that fans of this wine expect.

It’s made from the best parcels of Cabernet from their terra rossa sites, fermented in small batches, and matured for 18 months in a mix of new and seasoned French oak. The result? A wine with presence and polish – dark berries, cedar, a touch of bay leaf, and fine, gravelly tannins that give it plenty of shape and ageability.

You don’t need to wait decades to enjoy it either. It’s drinking beautifully now if you like your Cabernets with a bit of tension and lift, but will reward a good spell in the cellar too. All up, it’s a classic in the best sense – smart, composed, and unapologetically Coonawarra.

98 points
"Never has a new release Cabernet Sauvignon captivated me as much as this First Growth from Parker Coonawarra Estate... A wine that has been harpooned back to the top tier where it belongs, this is winemaker Ox Hardy at his best."
- Steve Lescynski (Q Wine)

97 points
"A spider’s web of intricate tannin ensures this wine will age gracefully, unfolding at its own unhurried pace."
- Shanteh Wale (Halliday Wine Companion)