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.

Merlot

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

Shiraz

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

Vineyard Series

Coonawarra is one of Australia’s first and finest cool-climate wine growing regions. Our Vineyard Series wines spotlight the wonderful vineyards we’re proud to partner with on the famous terra rossa soils which make our region so famous. It’s each vineyard‘s unique combination of vine, soil and location which come together to craft our award winning wines.

Scarlett Block Cabernet Sauvignon

The Scarlett sub-section of Parker Estate’s Abbey vineyardsits at the southern end of the celebrated Coonawarra growing region. With its classic Terra Rossa over Limestone soils and late ripening location, the mature vines on this vineyard produce world-class, modern and distinctive Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rocky Block Shiraz

The Rocky Block on the McLeod’s Tirrike vineyard sits at the very northern limit of the Coonawarra growing region. Somewhat predictably, the vineyard is littered with Limestone rocks which sit amongst the vineyard’s shallow terra rossa soils. These ancient soils lack the fertility of neighbouring paddocks with black dirt, limiting yields, concentrating flavour and producing wonderfully expressive cool climate Shiraz with high levels of natural acidity.

Mill Block Chardonnay 

The Mill Block sub-section of the Williams vineyard is located at the southern end of the celebrated Coonawarra growing region. This part of our cool climate district sits on classic Terra Rossa over Limestone soils and is the last to ripen, enabling the mature vines to produce Chardonnay with generous and full flavours.

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.

Dichotomy Shiraz Mataro

Dichotomy; ‘A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.’ This wine is just that. Old vine Coonawarra Shiraz and Barossa Mataro, hand-picked and whole bunch fermented to craft a young and fresh style of red. Complex and structured, it’s a vibrant wine which belies the maturity of its components. Youth is not always wasted on the young!

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.

Tranquility Rosé

Tranquillity: There’s something about Rosé. It signifies respite, relaxation, the warmth of summer, cheese boards, umbrellas, wooden decks, banter and laughter. A simple drop in blood pressure that reminds us what life is all about. Or should be!