Parker Estate First Growth 2022

96 POINTS

Shanteh Wale - Halliday Wine Companion

Abbey vineyard fruit. 16 months' maceration in 75% new barriques. A marriage of red, black and blue fruit this vintage with some rosella, tulip and pink peppercorn spice. Acidity is crunchy and assertive, with some milky coconut-shell creaminess and soft redcurrants appearing throughout. This is delicately entwined. Its freshness and the zippy crunch to the fruit mean it's drinking very well now; I would call this quite approachable but of course it still has a decade ahead of it. Some carob and coffee grinds to finish its long length. A fine and lithe wine this vintage.

96 POINTS

Ken Gargett - Winepilot

One of Coonawarra’s iconic Cabernets, the fruit is sourced from the Estate’s Abbey Vineyard. Maturation was over a period of sixteen months in oak barriques, 75% of which new. 300 dozen were produced. Deep maroon/red, the nose exhibits blackberries, lashings of quality oak, mocha, chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon, as well as hints of cocoa powder. There is excellent focus, tension and direction here. Well balanced with a fine line of juicy acidity through to silky tannins, this is a superb Coonawarra Cabernet. Hints of blueberries begin to emerge right at the finish. This is a twenty-year proposition.

93 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

From the Abbey Vineyard, 41 days on skins, 16 months in French oak (75% new). Parker’s ‘First Growth” hasn’t had the most glorious history on the Winefront’s pages – HERE This is both firm and fluid. It shows a lot of oak and a lot of tannin but it makes both work to its advantage. It tastes of blackcurrant, redcurrant, tobacco, coffee grounds, smoked cedar and mint, and while it’s bold it’s not lethargic; it has decent freshness and indeed energy. It also has excellent length, and while there’s a minor nutty bitterness to the aftertaste it is in general a most impressive wine.

92 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Vinous

The 2022 First Growth is slick with focused aromas of blackcurrant, red earth, savory oak and a subtle minty lift. Fleshy flavours are well integrated with spicy oak and fine, silky tannins. The 2022 is an elegant edition of this Coonawarra icon.

91 POINTS

David Sly - Decanter

Taking a selected portion of fruit from the Scarlet North section of Parker Estate’s large Abbey block, the winemakers have focused intently on the lean blackberry muscle of this robust Cabernet Sauvignon. They’ve used a firm hand in the winery to tame the beast; 13 days in closed fermenters, 41 days maceration, with 75% of the wine matured in new oak barrels, adding a spicy, cedar note. The result is dead serious, with sooty blackberry notes and a black tar lick pulled taut and severe by firm, puckery tannins. A firm acid spine means this will be one worth watching as it develops in the cellar.