Wines

Special Releases

Only produced from the very best vintages from Coonawarra’s most outstanding vineyards. These select parcels of high-quality fruit with exceptional character are vinified separately and epitomise the purity and elegance of cool climate Coonawarra.

First Growth

First Growth is only produced when the growing season produces exceptional fruit quality, and when a particular vintage is deemed to have ageing potential beyond 15 years. First Growth is made from predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from our Abbey vineyard, with some vintages containing a small portion of Merlot and/or Petit Verdot. It is a wine that proudly reflects the sub-region it is grown in and is humbled by critical reviews and unfailing benchmark scores from international wine critics.

95 Block

The 95 Block sub-section of our Estate vineyard is located west of our cellars and planted to Reynell selection Cabernet Sauvignon. These vines are original cuttings from Bordeaux, brought to Coonawarra before they were lost to France in the late 1800s. The 95 Block also has a small section of Petit Verdot, which is harvested and co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Kidman Block

This single block Shiraz is crafted to the highest standards, utilising fruit from one of the Coonawarra’s most outstanding Shiraz vineyards. These established vines are over 50 years old, and rest in classic terra rossa over limestone soils. They are naturally low yielding (approximately 3t/Ha), producing beautifully concentrated fruit that thrives from minimal, hand-tended viticulture. Kidman Block epitomises the purity and elegance of cool climate Coonawarra.

Terra Rossa

The marriage of Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa over limestone soils, with Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, has produced some of Australia’s greatest and longest living wines. Wines released under the ‘Terra Rossa’ classification are made exclusively from fruit grown on the rich red soils of this infamous strip.

The invaluable elements of these soils crossed with the cooler-climate of the region combine to produce a range of wines showing wonderful fruit expression, complexity, elegance in structure and excellent cellaring potential.

Cabernet Sauvignon

The Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon reflects our stylistic approach to creating exceptionally balanced, fruitful and structured wines from the rich soils of the region.

Shiraz

This intensely flavoured, cool climate Shiraz is made from fruit grown down the earlier- ripening, northern end of the terra rossa strip.

Merlot

The Terra Rossa Merlot highlights the unparalleled benefits of vine maturity, which produces fruit of exceptional quality and depth of flavour.

Cool-Climate

Coonawarra is one of Australia’s first and finest cool-climate wine growing regions. The maritime influence of the Southern Ocean exposes the region to even greater cooling due to the seasonal upwelling of dark blue water streams from Antarctica. These conditions ensure an extended ripening period for the development of intense flavours and retention of natural acidity.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Youthful and stylish with generous, mouth filling fruit flavours and classic structure.

Shiraz

An approachable, yet elegant Shiraz of great depth of flavour and definitive structure.

Chardonnay 

Outstanding fruit quality, new French oak and wild-yeast fermentation deliver a finely structured and full-flavoured Chardonnay.

Small Batch Wines (S.B.W.)

Each vintage the winemaking team has the privilege of working with an incredible array of fruit from several premier regions across South Australia. While the majority of these parcels make their way into our range of wines, there are a few special barrels that are kept separate, to experiment with various varietal, vineyard and regional combinations. These unique blends have come to be bottled under the S.B.W. label to be enjoyed exclusively by members of the Parker Estate cellar door.

Quandary Summer Dry White (BGD)

Quandary indeed. What to do with pristine parcels of aromatic white (Pinot Gris, Semillon, Riesling, Sauv Blanc & Fiano) that when blended, make a delicious Summer Dry White? Winemaker’s notes were “Delicate white flowers, jasmine, blossom, juicy stone fruits, zesty acid, fine, fresh – a bloody good drink (BGD).” So we bottled it. Santé!

Frogmouth Fine Old Tawny

This fortified wine is given significant time in barrel (an average of 13 years), then carefully blended to produce a wine of richness, depth and decadence. This is the perfect complement for some wild game, poached on the wing in the dead of night! The Tawny Frogmouth Owl, common across the region, is a regular visitor to the magnificent gum at the entrance of the Parker Cellar Door, a comforting sight and sound for an early start, or finish after dark.

Simpatico Shiraz Cabernet

This classic blend is from two stunning parcels of fruit: McLaren Vale Shiraz from the Upper Tintara Vineyard located in Blewitt Springs and Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon from the Abbey Vineyard at the southern end of Coonawarra. The moniker “Simpatico” speaks to these two grape varieties, both celebrated in their respective regions and how they come together in harmony to create what has become affectionately known as “The Great Australian Red”.