1988 Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa First Growth

The best wine of the three Parker offerings is the 1988 Terra Rossa-First Growth. This is a stunning Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. I suspect it can only be challenged by Penfold's famous Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon. While the price may dampen some of my enthusiasm, it is indeed a super wine. Dark opaque ruby/purple-colored, with a sensational nose of wood, fruit, and herbs, this full-bodied, superbly concentrated, well-balanced wine is just beginning to unfold. It can easily compete with the best of Bordeaux and California. Much like the 1989 First Growth, it should continue to drink well for 10-12 years. Intrigued by the name, I had a chance to taste three Parker offering as a courtesy extended me by one of London's finest wine merchants, Corney and Barrow. Given the shortage of truly profound wines from Australia, this relatively new estate has made a stunning debut. Apparently the total production never exceeds 2,000 cases, and the winery has not made more than 1,000 cases under the "First Growth" label. Yields are restricted to no more than two and one-half tons per acre, which translates to a conservative 35-40 hectoliters per hectare. This is an impressive new winery from Coonawarra! Importer: Franklin Selections, Linthicum, MD.