10 Must Try Cabernet Sauvignons From Around The World

We love this heavy-duty, thick-skinned grape with its full-bodied, well-structured, punchy character and because of this hardy nature, you can find Cabernet Sauvignon pretty much everywhere.

Today, we’re focusing on the key styles as we embark on a globetrotting adventure through France, Chile, USA, Argentina, and Australia. We’ve got two of the best options from each to present you with, one representing incredible value, and the other giving you the chance to splash out on something special. Let’s dive into the purple pool of Cabernet Sauvignon.

FRANCE

Domaine de la Baume Cabernet Sauvignon Les Thermes 2020

This is a captivating 100% Cabernet Sauvignon ruby red bursting with blackberries and blackcurrants against a woody, coffee bean backdrop. The structure, elegance and cosy character of this wine is exceptional, especially for the price, and it’s also delicious alongside fancy cheese.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £9.99

Les Mougeottes Cabernet Sauvignon

A warming hug of a wine, this Les Mougeottes Cab is moreish well rounded and full-bodied, but does retain a certain lightness. A bright bouquet of oaky vanilla invites on the nose, before the smooth mouthfeel reveals blackberries, plum and dashes of coffee and subtle tobacco. Silky and sophisticated.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £11.75

CHILE

Diablo Black Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep, intense, and full of personality, this Maule Valley Cab is aged in a combination of French and American Oak barrels. The results is pretty remarkable for the price – a delicious inky red layered up with dark wood, tobacco, vanilla and rich fruits that linger. So, so silky too – a must try for a tenner.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £10

Ventisquero Grey Glacier Cabernet Sauvignon

This Chilean gem boasts a dark ruby hue with a violet touch, delivering a symphony of flavours from plums to blueberries, and a touch of wet leather for that intriguing edge. The party continues with dark chocolate, coffee, and a hint of black pepper on the palate, embraced all the way by robust tannins. Complexity wise, this is a real benchmark and whilst the initial intensity isn’t as strong as some, it just gets better and better.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £17.95

USA

Apothic Red Cabernet Sauvignon

Time for some American Cab now. Picture jammy dark fruits and vanilla essence silkily entwining as the Cabernet and Zinfandel grapes combine. There is subtle smokiness, but this liquid is all about the oaky, vanilla and dark fruits riding on that wonderfully smooth texture.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £9.50 (usually more!)

Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Meet this Napa Valley superstar, deep, rich, and full of intrigue. Aged in French oak for 16 months, the woody vanilla is tantalising. A flurry of dark cherries, blackberries and a little kick of spice fill the palate, with a supremely balanced profile and lingering peppery finish. Exquisite.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £18.49

ARGENTINA

Vinalba Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Over to Mendoza for a punchy and powerful expression now, with Vinalba Reserve. rafted by the winemaking virtuoso Hervé J Fabre, the nose is a classic blackcurrant symphony with hints of cherry and a spicy plum cameo. Its palate is a red carpet of rich blackcurrant flavours, leading to a smooth, juicy, and delicately spicy finale that leaves you wanting to return for another sip straight away. Fantastic alongside hearty stews or venison. Serious bang for buck with this bottle.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £11

Luigi Bosca de Sangre 2020

There’s a reason we reference Luigi Bosca a lot, and that’s because the portfolio is just superb. This suave Cab really is one of the best out there, brimming with black fruit swagger, comforting peppery warmth, silky tannins, and a powerful, full-bodied punch. The centuries of craftsmanship in this family business are in every drop and it’s so difficult to go wrong with this.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.3%
Find here: £21

AUSTRALIA

McGuigan Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

If you’re hunting for value, then this is a must try. Hailing from New South Wales, it’s vibrant and fruit-forward, particularly with ripe blackcurrants. Classic oaky vanilla provides support, as well as juicy cherry and trademark silky tannins. There aren’t any major shocks, this is just gloriously well-rounded and loveable Cabernet Sauvignon from Down Under.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £7.75

Bird in Hand

Straight from the Adelaide Hills is this interesting Australian Cab, with explorative notes of plum and blackcurrant, but also a violet florality and nuanced flavoursome oak. The elegance and structure are to die for, with generous depth framed by lush, long tannins. The fruits are juicy, but with touches of sourness and acidity that round everything off brilliantly. A true stand out and such a treat.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £15

Prefer a glass of Pinot? You’re in luck because we’ve just been settling on our favourites for 2023 here!

talkTV: Cabernet Blends for Cabernet Day!

Lebanon (Bekaa Valley)

Petit Paradis de Qanafar, Chateau Qanafar, 2018

The Bekaa Valley in Eastern Lebanon is the country’s most important farming region and where 90% of all Lebanese wine is made. With dry summers and cool winters, the climate is Mediterranean where any extreme heat is mitigated by the vines planted at altitude on mountain slopes and the rain shadow those mountains bring. The region produces deeply coloured and flavoured wines from predominantly French grapes.

The Bekaa Valley is also one of the oldest wine regions in the world, with Israelite prophets mentioning the wines of Lebanon during the biblical era as well as the Ancient Phoenicians. Production dwindled during the Ottoman empire but flourished again after the world wars.

Chateau Qanafar is a family run winery that use only grapes they own ans farm right next to their winery. The Petit Paradis is what they call a ‘vin de plaisir’, rather than a simple table wine as it aims to be simple yet structured with lots of vibrant, ripe fruit.  Think  juicy blackberry and redcurrant with toast and vanilla. Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (35%), Merlot (25%), Syrah (20%), Tempranillo (20%).

Find it for £14.99 from Naked Wines

South Africa (Stellenbosch)

Reyneke, Cornerstone Organic, 2018

Reyneke is an organic and biodynamic wine estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa run by visionary winemaker Johan Reyneke. Their ethos is all about reusing, recycling, and re-purposing and they do not use any kind or type of pesticide or anything-cide. This properly holistic approach has produced wines of a whole new level of vibrancy showing that methods that are better for the earth are also  better for the wine.

Culturally too, Reyeke has a similar approach. Their Cornerstone project is founded on the fact that you cannot make good grapes without good people who want to do a good job. They employ local workers, empowering them to become financially independent and educated through this scheme with retirement annuities and funeral policies added to the pay structure of all permanent employees.

This classic Bordeaux-style blend is all about ripe blackcurrant spice and tobacco leaf flavours. Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (63%), Cabernet Franc (36%) Merlot (1%)

Find it for £16.99 on offer at WaitroseCellar

Chile (Maipo Valley)

Santa Rita, Triple C, 2018

Santa Rita was founded in 1880 in Chile’s Maipo Valley when founder Don Domingo Fernández Concha brought over grape varieties from Bordeaux, installed state-of-the-art equipment and employed a team of fantastic winemakers. With that, Chilean wine making was changed forever! Today, Santa Rita still pioneers, using the most advanced technology and producing world class wines.  The Triple C is a nod to the traditional French blends at the heart of the winery's history, which are aged in French oak. Concentrated but fresh, think black cherries, cedar and tobacco with awesome structure.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Cabernet Franc (40%) Carménère (15%)

Find it for £19.99 mix 6 price at Majestic

See what else Helena has tasted on talkTV with Mike Graham here!/

Thursday Club with talk RADIO: Crémant

Today’s Thursday Club is all about Crémant: the French fizz made in the same way (the traditional method) as Champagne, but from other regions in France, using their local grape varieties. You can get Crémant from many regions around France, the most famous being Crémant de Bourgogne (Burgundy) Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Bordeaux, Crémant de Limoux and Crémant d’Alsace. 

Only French wines can be called Crémants and they offer fantastic value, considering they are made in the same time consuming method as Champagne, where wine needs to be aged on the lees (dead yeast cells) albeit for a shorter amount of time. Lees is what gives fizz its biscuity, brioche notes. 

Today, we’re looking at Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux, Brut NV

Fizz from the world’s most famous wine region has existed for centuries but it was only officially recognised as a style in 1990. They are often more aromatic and fruity than Champagne thanks partly to the grape varieties used and less time on lees. 

Grape varieties: Sémillon and Cabernet Franc

£10 from Tesco

Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux, Brut Rosé NV

This rosé is made with the famous red grapes of Bordeaux, so offers a structured, savoury pink style that’s ideal for food like cold cuts. Cracking value and on offer at the moment. 

Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

Find it for £10.39 from Ocado (down from £12.99)

Crémant de Bourgogne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut NV

The famous white grape of France’s Burgundy region (Bourgogne in French) is Chardonnay and in this case, ‘blanc de blanc’ means 100% Chardonnay, though other local grapes such as Gamay and Pinot Noir can be used. While Chardonnay is also the grape used in Champagne, the region of Burgundy is a bit warmer and so Crémant de Bourgogne is often a bit rounder with more fruit. Very easy going. 

Grape variety: Chardonnay

Find it for £10.49 Waitrosecellar on offer (down from £13)

Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé, Simonnet-Febvre, NV

The red wines of Burgundy are famously made with Pinot Noir and this Crémant is made purely with this grape. Pinot Noir is also one of the main grapes of Champagne but from here in Burgundy, the pinks are much more fruity with notes of cherry and spice. 

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Find it for £15.75 from Vinatis

See what else we have tasted on the Thursday club here, here and here!

Best Wines for a Beef Sunday Roast

Fluffy Yorkies, crispy spuds, slivers of tender beef… who doesn’t love a Sunday roast? And it tastes even better when you’re washing it down with a cracking wine. Read on for some top grape varieties guaranteed to match the meaty gorgeousness of a beef Sunday roast, whether or not you choose to smother yours in gravy…

Cabernet Sauvignon

Are you a Sunday roast purist? Then you can’t go wrong with Cabernet Sauvignon – perhaps the most classic match there is. It really makes the beef shine; the wine’s tannins and structure hold up brilliantly against the meat’s robust texture and help bring out its flavour. Styles of Cabernet vary quite a bit depending on where they’re from, so shop (and sip) around to find one you like. Those from Bordeaux are typically lighter than those form the sunny ‘New World’ and are often blended with Merlot, so expect a balance of lovely black and red fruit. California, meanwhile, is known for bold and powerful, age-worthy fruity numbers and if you want something in the middle, look to South Africa, Chile or Southern France.

Affordable: Apothic Cabernet Sauvignon UK £9 // US $8.98
Mid-Tier: Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon UK £21.50 // US $25.19
Top-End: Mt Brave UK £79.99 // US $99.99

Malbec

This one’s a bit of a no-brainer. Argentina, where some of the world’s best Malbecs are made, also produces some of the world’s best beef so, obviously, the two will go together! Inky and rich, Malbec’s soft tannins and juicy, ripe sweetness make it a good pairing with everything else you’ve got going on the plate too, such as roasted carrots and crisp roasties. Don’t just stick to Argentina though; try Malbecs from Chile or for a more savoury, structured style, head to Cahors in the south of France, which is in fact the grape’s original homeland (and where it is known as cot).

Affordable: Tesco Finest Argentinian Malbec £8
Mid-Tier: Bramare Malbec Lujan de Cuyo £29.44 // US $39.99
Top-End: Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino UK £81.95 // US $119.99

Shiraz / Syrah

Whether in its more concentrated, richly-fruited, juicy and peppery form (Shiraz) or a more meaty, herbaceous style (Syrah), this versatile grape variety is a delicious match for beef. Old-World style Syrahs such as those from the grape’s original home in the Northern Rhône, can often be quite savoury and earthy, so make a good match for the all-important side veg (carrots, parsnips, you name it). Meanwhile, wines labelled as Shiraz, usually from Australia, are typically robust and juicy enough to make the beef stand out. Great halfway styles between the two classics can be found in California or cool climate, Northern Chile.

Affordable: McGuigan Reserve Shiraz £6
Affordable: The Black Stump Durif Shiraz £11.99
Mid-Tier: Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz UK £29.95 // US $27.99
Top-End: Mclaren Vale Yangarra Estate Ironheart Shiraz UK £89.97 // US $121.88

Grenache

It’s not hard to love Grenache. This grape’s got plenty of body, great for meaty dishes like Sunday roast beef but, thanks to soft tannins and lower acidity, it’s also seriously approachable and fruity (read: dangerously drinkable) with notes of wild strawberry and spice. You can easily sip it before, during and after the meal – it’s just as tasty on its own as it is with food, so it’s a prime pick if you’re draining a few bottles with friends over a pub meal where everyone has ordered something different. Spanish wines will label it as Garnacha, while Australian or Rhone ‘GSM’ blends see it blended with Syrah/Shiraz and Mourvedre, aka Mataro.

Affordable: Waitrose Cotes du Rhone Villages £7.99
Mid-Tier: Anayón Garnacha £22.15
Top-End: Orin Swift 'Abstract' UK £39.99 // US $37.99

Tempranillo

One word: Rioja. Savoury, spiced and bursting with strawberry, licorice and leather notes, this medium-bodied wine basically goes with loads of different foods and that means every bite of your sautéed cabbage (if you like that kind of thing with your roast) is going to taste just as great as those roasted potatoes or green beans. While the region of Rioja offers us the most famous expression of Tempranillo, you’ll also find the grape grown elsewhere in Spain and in countries like Australia, where styles are sometimes fuller and more juicy, with chocolate and black fruit notes.

Affordable: Il Carretto IGT Rosso di Puglia £8.75
Mid-Tier: Altos de Baroja Rioja Joven £10.95
Top-End: Marqués de Murrieta Gran Reserva Rioja £48.95

Pinotage

South Africa’s flagship red grape, brooding, earthy Pinotage will give love to the roasted, charred flavours on your plate with its plum, blackberry and dark cherry flavours. Don’t be put off by the ‘burnt rubber’ character that it’s sometimes described as having; the very best-made wines have plenty of fruit, structure and, as they age, develop notes of smoke and spice., especially when you choose a more premium wine made from older vines.

Affordable: Swartland Private Collection Pinotage £8.29
Mid-Tier: The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage £22.90
Top-End: Hamilton Russell Ashbourne £37.95

Sangiovese

Even if you’re not fully ‘au fait’ with the Sangiovese grape, you’ve probably drunk it. For example, ever had Chianti or a Brunello? This Italian grape’s fresh acidity and earthy character makes it infinitely matchable with food, and it can take on a trad British roast just as successfully as Nonna’s finest lasagne. It’s also one of the rare grapes that loves acidic tomato sauces, If you’re looking for something quirkier, try Sangiovese grown in California (you’ll find some interesting takes in the Napa Valley) or Australia. 

Affordable: Caparzo Sangiovese Toscana UK £11.15 // US $12.99
Mid-Tier: Le Volte dell' Ornellaia £28.99
Top-End: Antinori Tenuta Tignanello 'Marchese Antinori' Chianti Classico Riserva UK £34.79 // US $49.99

Looking for some fun Easter drinks gifting? Why not try these Delicious Chocolate Alcoholic Drinks and while you’re at it why not check out these Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings?

Stunning Wines to Enjoy this Christmas

We love our wine and have been spoiled for choice this year with the wonderful bottles we have tasted. Here’s a selection of some that really caught our eye and our taste buds, that have that extra wow factor, making them the perfect wine gift or sip over the festive season.

Sparkling

Champagne Duval-Leroy ‘Clos Des Bouveries’ 2006 Vintage

Not just any Champagne, the ‘Clos des Bouveries’ is an ancient vineyard plot owned by the Duval-Leroy family that boasts the perfect location and terroir for champagne grapes, giving them exceptional concentration and fruit. Made with 100% Chardonnay and partially fermented in oak barrels, it combines purity with complexity and body. Gorgeous.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £121 and find the rest of the range here

Beau Joie Brut

Translating as ‘beautiful joy’, this Champagne is just that; a stunner on the eye and a delight to drink! The striking bottle oozes luxury with its unique copper casing, which also acts as a wine cooler when chilled - and the champagne inside is definitely something to write home about. The even better news… Beau Joie is available in three variants: a crisp, clean, rosé Champagne, a fruity elegant demi-sec and a unique, zero-dosage brut.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Find here: £89.95

Delamotte Blancs de Blancs NV

2020 marks the 260th anniversary of this house, founded in 1760 by Francois Delamotte. It’s the sister Champagne to the celebrated Salon, arguably the world’s rarest champagne and is the hidden ‘insiders’ gem that true winos adore. 100% Chardonnay from the region’s top Grand Cru vineyards, the non vintage manages to combine freshness and complexity with elegance and accessibility, showcasing gorgeously understated notes of lemon, grapefruit and brioche, backed up by a moreish chalkiness and soft, creamy mousse. For the price, it’s unbeatable. It also comes in half bottles! Perfect for the stocking.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Find here: £42.46 (on offer) // £22.91 (half bottle)

Bollinger Special Cuvée 007 Limited Edition

This special cuvée was created to celebrate a 40 year collaboration between Maison Bollinger and the James Bond franchise, while at the same time, marking the launch of No Time To Die. This wine comes in a limited edition gift box that brings together Bollinger’s signature Special Cuvée, the Aston Martin DB5 and James Bond, with its sleek, silver birch colour and silhouette of the man himself. Special Bolly just got even more special in our opinion!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Find here: £46.50

Hattingley Valley Kings Cuvée 2014

A very limited release from Hattingley valley made by rising star winemaker Emma Rice, this gorgeous English sparkling wine is a premium blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (the exact same grapes used in Champagne). It is perfect for enjoying with pre dinner snacks and has just won the accolade of ‘Supreme Champion’ at the WineGB awards, making it the best sparkling wine in the UK. We’ll drink to that!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Find here: £85

White

Six Brothers Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2019

Founded by Richie Vandenberg, an ex ‘Aussie Rules’ footballer and captain, the Six Borther wines were names after the heroic Vandenberg brothers who fought for their country at the outbreak of World War II. This Chardonnay is just the ticket for turkey, creamy cheese dishes, pastas or even fish. It’s aromatic and powerful, with flavours of white stone fruits, creme brûlée, hazelnut and citrus peel. Creamy on the palate too, it’s a perfect festive white. Opulent and delicious.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £22.99 mix six price from Majestic

Gusbourne ‘Guinevere’ Chardonnay, Kent, England 2018

Yes, a still white wine from England and it is breathtaking! This exceptionally elegant Chardonnay is packed with complex notes of citrus peel, brioche, orchard fruit and citrus with the leanest, saline backbone. There’s so much going on but it doesn't shout loudly. Guinevere is the perfect name.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £25

Saintsbury Chardonnay, Carneros, USA

A rich, sunshine Chardonnay is precisely what you need on a cold, Christmas day. Notes of marshmallow and vanilla are offset by a lick of lemon citrus and a cool, mineral core. Channel California while you sip! We love this wine and this mix six price, you could treat someone to their own stash. Pair it with the Pinot Noir (below) and you’ve covered all bases.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: UK £20.99 mix six price // US $34.58

Rosé

Soho House's Lady A Rose

You may have heard us banging on about how rosé - especially Provencal rosé is perfect with festive meals, so what a great idea to ship in a case of this as a gift for someone (or yourself)! This unique Rosé is a collaboration with the iconic, biodynamic Chateau la Coste estate in Provence and Soho House. It’s delicate and elegant with peach and strawberry notes, yet with a creamy weight on the palate. Perfect alone or with turkey and all the trimmings!

Size: 75cl
Find here: £19.90

Etna Rosato, Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2019

Nerello Mascalese grapes grown on bush vines in the volcanic soils of Sicily’s Mount Etna make for unique, interesting and delicious wines. Supremely elegant but multi-layered and textural, this is a beautiful, textural yet vibrant pink with subtle notes of red plum and cherry. A gorgeous winter pink and a great food wine, especially with fleshy fish dishes. 

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £11.25 

Red

Boekenhoutskloof Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

South Africa had a tough time during lockdown with alcohol sales being banned, resulting in very hard times for producers and merchants. You can support them by drinking fabulous wine - and this is a firm favourite of ours. 

Pronounced BURK- ERN-HOOTS-CLOOF (which is a delight to say out loud - try it!), this Cabernet Sauvignon from the Helderberg area showcases the perfect blend of old world and new world styles. Perfumed, complex and alluring, those classic Cabernet notes of cedar and blackcurrant are there in abundance and balanced so beautifully with a crisp acidity, cool minerality and moreish notes of bay leaf, graphite and cacao. Beguiling and utterly delicious.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: UK £39.99 mix six price // US From $35 here

Saintsbury Pinot Noir, Carneros, USA

Cool climate California produces some beautifully aromatic, cherry-scented Pinot that’s soft as silk. This is an incredibly easy-drinking Pinot Noir packed with dark and red berry fruit and gentle cinnamon spice. A perfect partner for turkey and festive fare and a create follow on from the Chardonnay (above).

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: UK £20.99 mix six price // US $46.58

Vandenburg Six Brothers Pinot Noir, Tasmania, 2018

Sister wine to the Chardonnay above, this soft and rich Pinot Noir comes from a single vineyard located south of the Tamar Valley in Tasmania. Think of spicy, red fruit like cherry and raspberry compote with a subtle herbaceousness and moreish, truffle earthiness. Incredibly complex and elegant, this wine is drinking beautifully now but will also keep for 5 years or so. Drink it with duck and Asian sauces or lamb and roasted vegetables. Gorgeous!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14%
Find here: £33.99 Mix 6 price

McGuigan Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2014

One of the premium wines from McGuigan; the well-loved Australian wine. With its pleasing red wax top, this wine looks how it tastes: bold and velvety with notes of blackberry jam spice and a kick of pepper and eucalyptus. A great looking bottle for a gift and a belter with red meat.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 15%
Find here: £20  

Inglenook Zinfandel Edizione Pennino 2011

Inglenook has been owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola since 1975 and he named this Zinfandel after his grandfather’s music company, Pennino. It even has one of the song titles on the cork! Zinfandel from here is bold and brooding, full of lush, damson fruit and notes of dried fig coming out with its age. This one is exceptional and beautifully balanced to boot!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14.8%
Find here: £58

Vineyard 7 & 8 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

2017 started so well in Napa but ended in devastating fires. Luckily, these vineyards were spared and the 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has developed into a beautiful wine, showing vibrant blackberry, currant, cassis and espresso, Great tension, and a beautiful finish. So impressive for such a challenging vintage. 

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14.8%
Find here: US £189.99

Looking for more ‘drinkspiration’? Then, make sure to check out our cognac, whisky and tequila gift guides!

Wakefield Wines 'Jaraman' Cabernet Sauvignon

Words by Aidy Smith

You know what I love seeing? A winery that has a built a global reputation of success and is still very much family owned. That’s the story of Wakefield Wines, who in 2017 when this particular wine was produced were given the title of ‘World’s Most Awarded Winery’. A testament to the hard work they’ve put in over three generations and a stamp of approval for their delicious wines with which have now graced our glasses for over fifty years.

For those less familiar, located in the heart of Clare Valley, Wakefield Wines was founded in 1969 by Bill Taylor Senior, a publican turned wine merchant who took his love of the grape to a whole new level. With his knowledge of the area, Bill began to plant vines in the perfect limestone soils for this cool climate region. Decades later, what was originally just 178 hectares of vineyards has continued to grow, allowing the winery to become one of the most highly esteemed producers in Australia.

The Jaraman range: a taste of terroir

This brings us to the Jaraman range, one of the more recent additions to their portfolio and in this case, the rich and juicy Cabernet Sauvignon. The word ‘Jaraman’ means seahorse in the Indigenous language and refers to when the family discovered tiny seahorse fossils found buried within the vineyards of Wakefield’s Clare Valley properties. Completely submerged by an inland sea for millions of years, the discovery of these little fossils when creating their dams on the property became the inspiration behind the company’s emblem.

This bespoke collection of wines was created to showcase a unique sense of terroir and regional expression. Australia has a massively diverse make-up of wine regions, so Adam Eggins, Wakefield’s winemaker of over 20 years decided to take grapes from two exceedingly quality driven areas – Coonawarra and Clare Valley. Doing so has allowed the family to blend the sumptuous ripe fruits and fine tannins of Clare Valley with the fine tannins and velvety mouthfeel we have come to associate with Coonawarra.

The result? A touch of French oak when ageing lends way to flavours of dark stewed plum, blackberry and blackcurrant with a smooth milk chocolate and tobacco. Great structure meets delicate tannins before the story comes to a finale with its soothing blackberry finish. This is my wind down wine at the end of the day, eagerly awaiting that moment of pure satisfaction as the first sip touches your taste buds. It helps that this wine goes wonderfully with just about anything you’re eating, meat, fish or vegetables, too.

Winery: Wakefield Wines
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14.5%
Size: 750ml

Buy now from Majestic £17.99 a bottle of £15.99 (mixed case deal)

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One Minute Wine Ace: Cabernet Sauvignon

You can generally presume that all professional, male rugby players have certain elements in common: they are full in body, fairly heavy and well structured. There are forwards who pack a slightly bigger punch and backs who are a tad more refined and lean, but generally speaking, you can always tell a rugby player a mile off, no matter where in the team they play. It’s the obvious build and all those purpley-black bruises that do it! And with all their years of training and experience, you can take a bet that their playing quality is going to be pretty reliable, no matter which country it is that they play for. They also tend to need a few years to chill out and mellow…

Yes, Cabernet Sauvignon is the professional rugby player of the wine world. This heavy-duty grape variety has the thickest skin of all the grapes, giving it lots of tooth-drying tannin and plenty of brawn! ‘Cabernet’, as it’s often known, is a hardy, well-structured grape that makes pretty reliable wine just about anywhere. This is why you can find it all over the world now. When at its very best, it can sometimes take a few years to mature, so bear that in mind when you’re picking one out. Look for a concentrated, dark blue-black and purple colour with distinctive, spicy blackcurrant and cedar flavours. In some cases, you’ll also spot a telltale minty or eucalyptus note, which is often a hint that it’s from a warmer climate.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON TASTING TOUR

Cabernet Sauvignon makes pretty reliable wines from many places globally, but here are four key styles to start your journey with,

Cabernet 1: Be prepared to spend some cash and head to Bordeaux, France: the Old World home of Cabernet, where it’s usually blended with Merlot among other grapes. Look for one from the Left Bank of the river Gironde for a classic earthy, cedary number that’s Cabernet dominant. Heard of Chateau Margaux? That’s a Cabernet-dominant, Left Bank Bordeaux wine.

Try: Château de Lamarque, Haut-Medoc, 2015 for £22.95 from Corneyandbarrow.com.

Cabernet 2: Compare your Bordeaux with a Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra in Australia for a fuller-bodied, juicier version with tonnes of ripe blackcurrant and a characteristic mint and eucalyptus twang. Coonawarra is one of Cabernet’s classic, New World homes. 

Try: Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon for £17.99 or £15.99 mix six price from Majestic.

Cabernet 3: At a similar price and standard to Bordeaux, you could also try some serious Cabernets from Napa Valley, California for a style that is somewhere between the two above: big wines made in a Bordeaux style, but with a pleasing extra dollop of fruit.

Try: Illustrious Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, £36 a bottle or £32.40 mix 6 price from Laithwaites.

Cabernet 4: For something a little more entry-level price wise, check out what they can do with Cabernet over in the warm Colchagua Valley in Chile. Here, Cabernets are about full-on, sweeter, blackcurrant-scented wines with a savory, smoky kick. You can get some great ones for £6 or so but there are also some super-serious wines coming out of Chile too. 

Try: Montes Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile, £9 from Coop.

Like this? Try our other One Minute Wine Ace articles on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cotes du Rhone and Sauvignon Blanc.