Parker Coonawarra Estate 95 Block 2018

The Parker Estate Abbey vineyard, sub-section 95 block, lies in the south of the Coonawarra wine region and is planted to cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. The two grapes hail from Bordeaux originally and make for interesting bedfellows. Both aren’t shy when it comes to tannin, especially the latter which is often mentioned in the same tones as zinfandel. You get the drift. The vines planted are 23 years old so don’t qualify for old vine status just yet but have responded super well in the area’s terra rossa over limestone soils with the most gorgeous, lifted aromatics on full display.

Fragrant, fine-edged aromas of eastern bazaar spice, of cinnamon, clove, violets, tilled earth and black berries. To taste, expect a mix of spice and herbal notes (namely sage) nicely entwined among the dense black fruits, chocolate and coffee-tobacco notes, the latter from 17 months maturation in 73% new Taransaud barriques. It’s a solid wine but it remains medium in body, lifted in fragrance and with an undeniable fineness of winemaking touch that resonates.

Jeni Port

Wine critic at Winepilot

Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

Wine writer and critic