Cabernet Sauvignon from around the world, from the Napa Valley to the Andes
118 bottles, from everyday Cabernet to great wine for ageingBlackcurrant, cedar, graphite and a tannic backbone that needs time: this red built for ageing was born on the gravel soils of the Médoc, on the left bank of Bordeaux, before conquering every warm vineyard on the planet. The Napa Valley has made it its signature, Mendoza and Chile turn it into everyday bottles, Coonawarra and Bolgheri into cellar wines.
Here, each origin has its own row, each price tier its reference wine, and blends with Merlot, Syrah or Malbec are flagged. The price shown is always the price per bottle.
Elizabeth Spencer - Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2019
A Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon combining aromatic depth, precise structure, and a lingering finish.
Elizabeth Spencer - Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino 2022
A Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon combining coastal freshness, intense fruit, and elegant structure.
Catena - Alta Cabernet Sauvigon 2019
An Argentinian high-altitude Cabernet, combining aromatic intensity, Andean freshness, and an elegant structure.
Bond - Vecina 2021
A hillside Cabernet Sauvignon that is at once powerful, precise and deeply rooted in the Napa Valley terroir.
Bond - St Eden 2021
A single-vineyard Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, marrying depth, precision and the sculpted elegance of the St. Eden terroir.
Bond - Quella 2021
A hillside Cabernet Sauvignon combining fruit purity, freshness, and remarkable length.
Bond - Pluribus 2021
A Spring Mountain hillside Cabernet, deep, structured, and with great aromatic precision.
Bond - Melbury 2021
A precise and deep hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, combining aromatic intensity and elegant texture.
Boekenhoutskloof - Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch 2021
A precise and structured Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, where the freshness of the fruit meets the elegance of the oak.
Boekenhoutskloof - Cabernet Sauvignon Franschhoek 2021
A precise and structured Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon, where the freshness of the terroir meets the depth of the fruit.
Reta - Romelio 2020
A Chilean red from the Maipo Valley, combining Andean freshness, intense fruit and elegant structure.
Damascene - Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch 2021
A precise and elegant Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, where the freshness of the granite terroir meets the depth of the fruit.
Dario di Vaira - Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A Tuscan Cabernet from the Maremma coast, combining concentration, marine freshness and elegant structure.
Autòcton Celler - El Mas Vilella 2015
A Catalan red with character, where Mediterranean freshness meets the depth of old vines.
Riglos - Gran Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
A high-altitude Cabernet Sauvignon, powerful and precise, revealing the freshness and depth of the Gualtallary terroir.
Yarra Yering - Carrodus Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
A highly precise Cabernet Sauvignon from the Yarra Valley, combining aromatic intensity, freshness and fine texture.
Viu Manent - Single Vineyard La Capilla Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A precise and structured Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua, combining aromatic intensity and elegant texture.
Vasse Felix - Premier Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River combining aromatic precision, firm structure and maritime freshness.
Parker Coonawarra Estate - Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra that combines intensity of black fruits, freshness and assertive structure.
Parker Coonawarra Estate - 95 Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A precise and structured Coonawarra cabernet, a pure reflection of the Australian terra rossa.
Parker Coonawarra Estate - First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
A full-bodied and precise Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra, where concentration is combined with a remarkably balanced freshness.
Henschke - Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
A precise and intense high-altitude Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, where power meets elegance.
Castello di Volpaia - Citto IGT Toscana 2023
An approachable and delicious Tuscan red, designed for immediate enjoyment at the table.
Gonzalo Guzmán - Vontade Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A Cabernet Sauvignon bursting with flavor from the cool Maipo Andes region
Cabernet Sauvignon country by country
Everywhere, the grape keeps its blackcurrant and its tight structure; the climate decides the rest, from the ripeness of the fruit to the weight of the alcohol.
| Origin | Climate and style | Example wine | Admission fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa ValleyOakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap District | Hot days, morning fog rolling in from the bay. Ripe blackcurrant, polished tannins, new oak. | Postmark Cabernet Sauvignon 2021Napa Valley | €39.60 |
| Washington StateRed Mountain, Columbia Valley | Irrigated desert east of the Cascades, big swings between day and night. Dense black fruit, crisp acidity. | Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon 2018Red Mountain | €54 |
| Rest of CaliforniaAlexander Valley, Monterey, Paso Robles | Valleys cooler or warmer than Napa, a supple, fruity style, more discreet oak. | Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon 2020Santa Lucia Highlands | €23.50 in packs of 6 |
| ChiliMaipo, Colchagua | Bright sunshine, freshness coming down from the Andes. Ripe fruit, a hint of mint, supple tannins. | Undurraga Cabernet Sauvignon 2024Central Valley | €10.50 in packs of 6 |
| ArgentinaMendoza, Luján de Cuyo | Vines at around 1,000 m, intense light, cold nights. Deep colour, blackcurrant and pepper. | Doña Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2021Mendoza | €9.40 |
| AustraliaCoonawarra, Margaret River | Terra rossa over limestone, a climate tempered by the ocean. Blackcurrant, mint, eucalyptus, long ageing potential. | Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa 2021Coonawarra | €32 in packs of 6 |
| South AfricaStellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington | Granite and Atlantic breezes. A style between the Médoc and the New World, restrained fruit, cedar. | Diemersfontein Cabernet Sauvignon 2015Wellington | €19.90 |
| ItalyBolgheri, Tuscany, Veneto | Windswept Tuscan coast, gravels and clays. Cabernet on its own or paired with Sangiovese, saline freshness. | Castello di Volpaia Citto 2023Tuscan IGT | €15.90 in packs of 6 |
| And elsewhereLebanon, Spain, New Zealand | The altitude of the Bekaa, the hills of Catalonia, Hawke's Bay: Cabernet in blends, spicy and fresh. | Domaine des Tourelles Rouge 2022Beqaa Valley | €15.50 |
The entry price is that of the most affordable bottle from each origin. For all American wines, see the wines of the United States page.
From everyday Cabernet to great wine for ageing
Price mainly follows the vineyard and the ageing: stainless-steel tank for fruit, new oak and a single plot for ageing potential.
| Level | What you get | A wine | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under €15Everyday fruitiness | Tank-aged, upfront blackcurrant, soft tannins. Drink within three years, with grilled meat. | Caelum Terroir Cabernet Sauvignon 2022Mendoza, Argentina | €13.41 |
| €15 to €20 | The New World blend: Cabernet rounded out by Malbec, Merlot or Syrah. | Doña Paula Estate Smoked Red Blend 2023Cabernet, Malbec, Bonarda | €15.50 in packs of 3 |
| €20 to €30 | The Bordeaux blend outside Bordeaux: Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot, softer tannins. | Glenelly Estate Reserve Red 2017Stellenbosch, South Africa | €24.80 in packs of 6 |
| €30 to €60 | Terroir Cabernet, aged in barrel, that benefits from five years in the cellar. | Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2019Mendoza, Argentina | €49.80 in packs of 3 |
| €90 to €200 | Cabernet for ageing, single vineyard or the estate's top cuvée, ten years or more in the cellar. | Nickel & Nickel State Ranch 2020Oakville, Napa Valley | €189.90 |
| Over €390 | The great exceptional wine, historic cuvée or tiny production, for a special occasion. | Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2019Columbia Valley, Washington | €392 |
A Cabernet for every mood
One bottle per occasion, chosen from different countries.
An everyday Cabernet under €10
Blackcurrant and pepper, soft tannins: a straightforward Argentinian red to open straight away with meat pasta or a burger.
Doña Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 · €9.40 per bottleFor a rib of beef
A Maipo classic aged twelve months in French oak barrels: black fruit, spice and enough tannin for seared meat.
Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas 2018 · €15.90 per bottle, in packs of 6Discover an unexpected country
Cabernet, Syrah and Cinsault from the Bekaa, organically grown: cherry, cedar and rosemary, a spicy, generous Lebanese red.
Domaine des Tourelles Rouge 2022 · €15.50 a bottleA bottle-matured Cabernet
An already mature vintage from Wellington, near Cape Town: blackcurrant and cedar over tannins softened by time.
Diemersfontein Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 · €19.90 per bottleAmerica beyond Napa
Red Mountain, in Washington State: blackcurrant, cedar and dark chocolate on a dense frame, for ten years in the cellar.
Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 · €54 per bottleFor the cellar, to open in ten years
Parker's top cuvée from the terra rossa of Coonawarra: concentration, freshness and a long life ahead of it.
Parker Coonawarra Estate First Growth 2019 · €90 per bottle, in packs of 2A classic Napa to give
The Cabernet from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, the winery that won the Judgement of Paris in 1976, for a gift that will keep for fifteen years.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis 2020 · €119.90 per bottleThe great Tuscan Cabernet
The Bolgheri pioneer, born in 1968: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc on stony soil, a bottle for a great occasion.
Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2022 · €399 per bottle
A grape variety that demands sun and time
Cabernet Sauvignon is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It inherits thick skins and plenty of pips, hence plenty of tannin, as well as pyrazines, the molecules that smell of green pepper when the grapes are underripe. It buds and ripens late: it needs a long, warm season, gravel soils that give back heat in the Médoc, Andean or Californian sunshine elsewhere.
New oak does the rest, rounding out the tannin and adding cedar and vanilla. It is called the king of red grapes because it is the most widely planted in the world and the backbone of great wines for ageing. Its real strength lies in its consistency: wherever it grows, it remains recognisable.
How do you choose
Every Cabernet is tasted before it joins our cellar. We look for ripe fruit, a discreet hint of green pepper, and oak that supports the wine rather than smothering it. We also look for contrast between origins: a €10 Mendoza, a Coonawarra built for ageing and a great Napa should each tell the story of their climate.
The Wine Wanderer Team
What we are asked about Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the difference between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc?
Cabernet Franc is one of the two parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Sauvignon Blanc. Franc ripens earlier and gives lighter, more floral wines with notes of raspberry and graphite. Sauvignon brings more colour, tannin and blackcurrant, and needs more heat. The two are often blended, as in Sassicaia. See also our Cabernet Franc range.
Why do some Cabernets smell of green pepper?
The green pepper note comes from pyrazines, molecules naturally present in the grapes. They decrease as the berries ripen in the sun. A cool vintage, overly vigorous vines or an early harvest let them show through. When subtle, the note adds freshness; when pronounced, it betrays grapes picked too early. Cabernets from Napa, Mendoza or Coonawarra show very little of it.
How long should you keep a Cabernet Sauvignon?
It all depends on the price tier. An everyday Cabernet aged in tank is best drunk within three years. A terroir Cabernet aged in barrel benefits from five to ten years' wait. The great cuvées of Napa, Coonawarra or Bolgheri age for twenty years or more: the tannin melts, and blackcurrant evolves towards cedar, tobacco and forest floor.
What food goes with Cabernet Sauvignon?
Cabernet's tannin calls for protein and fat: rib of beef, duck breast, roast lamb, game birds or hard cheeses such as aged Comté. Young, fruity Cabernets go well with a burger or meat pasta. Avoid very spicy or vinegary dishes, which harden the tannin. For more ideas, see our tannic reds.
What is the difference between a Napa Cabernet and a Médoc wine?
The Médoc, on the left bank of Bordeaux, blends Cabernet with Merlot in an oceanic climate: the wine is fresher and more linear, with moderate alcohol. The Napa Valley, hotter and drier, gives riper fruit, rounder tannins and often more noticeable oak. The best Napas nonetheless keep real freshness, like those from the valley.
What is a Bordeaux blend?
It is a wine that blends the red grape varieties of Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and sometimes Malbec. Cabernet provides the structure, Merlot the roundness, Franc the perfume, Petit Verdot the colour. The model has been exported everywhere: Glenelly in Stellenbosch, Te Mata in Hawke's Bay and Staglin in Rutherford all follow the principle.
Should you decant a Cabernet Sauvignon?
A young, powerful Cabernet benefits from one to two hours in a decanter: air softens the tannin and opens up the black fruit aromas. An old vintage is decanted at the last minute, mainly to remove the sediment. Serve it at 16–18 °C, in a large Bordeaux glass that lets the wine breathe.
Which Cabernet to choose under €20?
Argentina and Chile offer the best prices: generous sunshine, high-altitude vineyards and tank fermentation give clean fruit and supple tannins. Doña Paula Los Cardos is €9.40 a bottle, Caelum Terroir €13.41. To see the full selection within this budget, use the €20 filter.
Why are great Napa Cabernets so expensive?
Napa Valley land is among the most expensive in the wine world, yields from the best plots are low and the wines are aged in new French oak barrels. Add to that tiny volumes and worldwide demand. At Bond, each cuvée comes from a single vineyard, hence a price of €1,045 a bottle.