Parker Estate Tasting@ Wine Gallery

Here is a brief notes on my recent tasting in Wine Gallery@Chang Charn Rd.

The wines today are from Parker Coonawarra Estate.

Terra Rossa Merlot 2001
A pretty good nose of leather and cedar supported by cassis and minimal pencil lead. However, palate was a tad "watery" and did not have enough body and acid to last. Tannin was rounded. An average effort overall.

Favourite Son Wrattonbully Cabernet Merlot 2005
Disjointed without much harmony. Minor tobacco and much berry on the nose. tannins was harsh for Parker's standard. Hints of vanila, mocha and chocolate. I wasn't impressed.

Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Good acid and fruit with cutting mid palate. Nose of leather, vanila, chocolate and dark currant. .Some cassis. Finish was medium. More approachable now compared to the first growth Terra Rossa. Lacking in elegance and complexity. Do not think i'll revisit this soon.

Terra Rossa First Growth Cabernet Merlot 2001
I was very much impressed with Terra Rossa First Growth 1998. It was juicy, chewy, with cutting mid palate and mineral that won over many of us during the decadent tasting of Le fruits de la vigne. However, the 2001 was not up to my expectation. Sure, it has more body and weight compared to the normal Terra Rossa, and you could taste substantial acid indicating long life ahead of it. However, it is still not coming together now in my opinion and lacking in much elegance and wow factor. Probably it needs much more time to integrate the acids and shed some of its fruit to reveal more tertiary flavour. I have a bottle in my cellar and i'll revisit them 5 years down the road.