Parker2004_medium  

2004 Parker Estate, First Growth, Cabernet Blend

  • Region
    Coonawarra
  • Country
    Australia
  • Price
    AUD $60-$70

  • Liquid Assets Assessment Summary

  • Summary note

    This wine opens with an over-whelming sneezy, dry Dust. Within all this dry, attic dust there emerges a Leafy-Green Mint. Following tentatively, and rather shy is the expected black-current a sweet capsicum and some Rich Toasty Oak. Perfumed Green flavours (clean mint-leaf) mix with some meaty cassis. A large and perhaps a rather rude dollop of merlot in the mid palate makes for easy drinking in the Now. Soft, round and tame the mid-palate is a little bulky, others may suggest curvaceous. The finish is of the highest order and by far the highlight of the wine. The finish is Focused with ripe tannins which saves the day. Fine grained Tannins with some minor furriness? Lots to ponder upon with this wine which means bonus marks. 92/100

  • Quality by palate position
    1 3 5 4
    Aroma Front Mid Palate Back Palate Aftertaste
    Quality by holistic factors
    1 3 2 5 5 4 3
    Ripeness Freshness Flavour Tannin Fault Freedom Complexity Integration
  • Score
    18.0/20
    92/100
    La_silver
    Liquid Assets
    Silver Quality

  • Wine Assessment Notes

  • Nose

    This wine opens with an overwhelming sneezy, dry Dust. This dusty aroma distracts(and overrides?) the nose early in the pour.

    I am displeased.

    Within all this dry, attic dust there emerges a Leafy-Green Mint which places this Cabernet in the Coonawarra wine region.

    Following tentatively, and rather shy is the expected black-current (of the cassis style); a bit player only(muted?).

    All this aggressive dust, leaf and mint is counterbalanced by a sweet capsicum (very odd) and some Rich Toasty Oak (not odd).

    A curious nose and it is with some trepidation that one proceeds. I am on high alert for the unripe Cabernet experience and its attendant methoxypyrazines – those nasty little daggers on the palate.

    So I proceed with caution.

  • Palate

    Perfumed Green flavours (clean mint-leaf) mix with some meaty cassis without the offensive stabbing on the palate – ahhh, perhaps some undeclared Cabernet Franc and the riddle would be solved?

    Its tends towards perfumed, emphasize ‘perfumed’ green herbs which is code language for poor quality but in this case it is not. A rule breaker.

    A large and perhaps a rather rude dollop of merlot in the mid palate makes for easy drinking in the Now. Soft, round and tame the mid-palate is a little bulky, others may suggest curvaceous.

    The finish is of the highest order and by far the highlight of the wine. The finish is Focused with ripe tannins which saves the day.

    Forgiveness.

    Fine grained Tannins with some minor furriness? A reminder to consider the ripeness of the wine.

    Lots to ponder upon with this wine which means bonus marks.

  • Wine highlight

    The finish demonstrates some ripe high grade Tannin.

  • Serving and Storage Suggestions

  • Drink by range
    2011-2014
  • Drink by comment

    Drinking well now with the Merlot dollop in the mid-palate and may go for 10 years.

  • Serving comment
    16-18 Degrees Celsius.
  • Store for
    7-10 years.

  • Other

  • Tasting date
    19/9/2008
  • Retailers

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