Luxe to less wine guide: cabernet sauvignon
Typically, cabernet sauvignon produces savoury medium to full-bodied dry red wines, boasting aromas of cedar and currant, with hints of mint. Australian expressions of cabernet sauvignon are more compact, with marked tannins, judicious alcohol levels and bright acidity, lifted by attractive herbaceous hints, and sometimes eucalyptus. There is no doubt, Australia produces world-class cabernet sauvignon and blends. Here we’ve compiled a luxe-to-less guide with something for every budget.
2010 Brand’s Laira One Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon, $80.50
Sourced from low-yielding vineyards planted on Coonawarra’s famous terra rossa soils, the One Seven One is a brambly and brooding cabernet sauvignon packed full of cassis and spicy cedar notes and underpinned by dried herbs. While drinking beautifully in its youth, this wine will continue to improve with careful cellaring. With 15 trophies to its name, it is one of the most awarded wines from the celebrated Coonawarra wine region and a hallmark Australian cabernet known across the world.
Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, $55.70
Created as a result of the availability of high-quality cabernet fruit, Bin 407 is inspired by its older brother, Bin 707. Not only offering varietal definition, but also approachability, structure and depth of flavour. The Bin 407 highlights the Penfolds approach to multi-region, multi-vineyard blending to create a cabernet that rewards the drinker in both early and later years.
2010 Evans and Tate Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, $30.00
Margaret River is known for producing exceptional Cabernet wines of unique character and this wine is no exception. Displaying dark fruits, cassis, cedar wood and garden herbs, this wine is approachable now but will also reward careful cellaring.
2012 McWilliam’s Appellation Hilltops Cabernet Sauvignon, $25
The new Appellation range from McWilliam’s is really generating some buzz in the wine community, showcasing the best varietals from the emerging, cool-climate regions of NSW. This cabernet sauvignon from Hilltops shows rich dark currant fruit with autumn leaves aromas that flow nicely onto the palate supported by cedar wood spices and soft velvety tannins.
2012 McWilliam’s Hanwood Cabernet Sauvignon, $14.00
The Hanwood range is known for overdelivering and the cabernet sauvignon is particularly good value. It was recently named by the UK wine writer Matthew Jukes in his highly regarded list of the Top 100 Australian wines, which is an amazing commendation considering the price point.
Hardys Stamp of Australia Cabernet Sauvignon, $6.99
Hardys have produced an easy drinking cabernet, with attractive soft berry flavours which flow easily across the palate and gentle tannins on the finish. Bottled in the larger format 1L bottles, there's now more to go around!