Late-budding, relatively late-ripening, full-bodied and often tannic, the planet’s most-prized Cabernet Sauvignons have historically come from Bordeaux, particularly from the communes of Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. Let’s raise a glass to this much-admired grape. Cheers!
- 2022 Chassaux et Fils IGP Atlantique Rosé, France (£6.49, Aldi, groceries.aldi.co.uk)
Snap up this dry, crunchy, medium-bodied, Atlantic French rosé with flavours of hibiscus, cranberry fruit and redcurrants. Cabernet Sauvignon is dominant in the blend, topped up with 14% Cabernet Franc. I’d chill it for summer salads, BBQ burgers, grilled fish, goat’s cheese or a salade Niçoise. Pop this crowd-pleasing bottle at your next bash – it’s a fab pink picnic wine, too.
- 2021 The Best Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia (£10, Morrisons, groceries.morrisons.com)
Coonawarra is Australia’s answer to Bordeaux’s Médoc with Cabernet Sauvignon-forward blends from its distinctive ‘Terra Rossa’ clay-over-limestone soils. This easy-drinking Aussie bargain oozes sappy blackcurrants, with hints of plums, sweet cedar, green tobacco and vanilla. It will make a good partner for spicy, barbecued lamb or slow-cooked smoky beef ribs. Brilliant value here for a quality entry-level premium Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon. No point in ageing as it’s ready to drink immediately.
- 2021 Berry Bros. & Rudd Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon by De Martino, Maipo Valley, Chile (£11.95, Berry Bros & Rudd, bbr.com)
Berry Bros & Rudd stock some very fine sub-£20 bargains. like this Cabernet Sauvignon from a progressive Chilean winery in one of Chile’s oldest wine regions bordering its capital, Santiago. Maipo is a region producing world-class Cabernet, especially in the gravel-rich Alto Mai (upper Maipo), an area which encompasses the sub-regions of Puente Alto and Pirque, in the foothills of the Andes. This rich, graceful, fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon is quite structured and has generous notes of pencil shavings, blueberries and damsons, plus a suggestion of nutmeg. Lots here for the money!
I could well imagine it with cold roast beef or BBQ lamb.
- 2020 Rustenberg John X Merriman Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£16.99 mix six, Majestic, majestic.co.uk)
Another tastebud-tingling cracker from the Barlow family cellars and beautiful vineyard near Stellenbosch, with masses of rich, spicy, bramble, mint, leather, briar and cigar box-scented oomph. Flickering acidity drives things along nicely and sapid, fine, powdery tannin lends support; the finish streams with spice and crème de cassis. Luscious, stylish and bang on for roasts.
- 2021 The Society’s Exhibition Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon by Vasse Felix, Australia (£17, The Wine Society, thewinesociety.com)
This top own-label ‘Exhibition’ (wines sourced only from the world’s finest growers) Wine Society Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Western Australia. It was bottled by Vasse Felix, Margaret River’s founding wine estate, established in 1967 in the temperate coastal area south of Perth, Western Australia. Think bay leaves and concentrated ripe, red and black berry fruit, with a smidgeon of peppercorn, red liquorice and ground star anise. The fruit is ripe and rippling, the tannins fine, willowy and utterly in cahoots, running together to unfurl across the palate and soar through the lengthy finish.
- 2015 Château Beau-Site, St.-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France (£24.50, Co-op, coop.co.uk)
This textbook, voluptuous, developed and fresh old-school Cabernet Sauvignon-based claret from a super vintage is plumped up with a big splash of fleshy Merlot (Bordeaux’s most widespread grape variety) and a dash of high-acid, red-fruited Cabernet Franc and overflows with warming blackcurrant, spice, violet florals and tobacco leaf charm. It’s a supple supermarket vinous gem and a real treat. Sip with roast lamb; it also goes magnificently with a cheeseboard afterwards.
Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine
