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The best wines from The Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2021
We bring you the results in full from this year’s Global Cabernet Masters, featuring Gold medallists from Israel and Turkey, Italy and Spain, along with Chile, Australia and California.
AMONG THE major globally planted red grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon is the only one that’s been immune to the fall and rise in consumer tastes this century.
Pinot Noir has been in vogue, Merlot has been maligned, and Syrah seemingly sidelined, while Cabernet has remained constant in its appeal. It’s a curious situation, but best explained by the reliable, and easily identifiable wines it yields. Cabernet’s black fruit, deep colour, and firm structure create the archetypal red wine – the sort of intense, dense and dry experience that people associate with a black-grape-based drink. Not only that, but Cabernet can reliably deliver this experience at all prices – depending, of course, on where’s it grown.
And Cabernet’s ability to survive shifting vinous fashions unscathed may also be connected to its versatility. It can be the base of inexpensive wines in a variety of styles, from the simple and fruity to sweet and chocolately, or the backbone for some of the greatest and most long-lived reds of the world. Furthermore, it can be managed in such a way as to produce something concentrated and powerful, or elegant and cool-tasting, prone as it is to producing green-tasting pyrazines.
It’s also a grape that seems able to move with the times – winemakers have used Cabernet Sauvignon to make bold expressions when the market wanted them, and, when it tired of these, more balanced ones in response.
Today, they seem to be doing a bit of everything with Cabernet, which again explains the grape’s lasting appeal, while, judging by this year’s Cabernet Sauvignon Masters, cutting back on the extremes – we didn’t see any wines that were obviously under-ripe or over-ripe. Neither did we taste wines that were too light, nor excessively heavy. And at the very top end, among the finest drops of the day, we had a broad selection of beautifully balanced wines – when, one suspects, a decade ago one might have been chewing through the samples, due to the combination of dried fruit and large amounts of tannin, both berry and barrel sourced.
So here is a grape that offers a constancy of quality, but a diversity of expressions, without the sort of stylistic extremes that might give it a bad name.
Read on to see this year’s top performers, and find out more about the competition, and click here to see the top 10 Cabernet-related trends of 2021.
Unoaked 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
| Winery | Name of Wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal | |
| Under £10 | ||||||
| Beefsteak Club | Beefsteak Club Cabernet Sauvignon | Central Valley | Chile | 2019 | Bronze | |
| Vignobles Bonfils | Domaine de Cantaussels | Languedoc | France | 2020 | Bronze | |
| £15-£20 | ||||||
| Les Vignobles André Lurton | Diane by Jacques Lurton | Bordeaux | France | 2020 | Silver | |
Oaked 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
| Winery | Name of Wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal | |
| Under £10 | ||||||
| Millaman | Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Curicó Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| De Bortoli Wines | Woodfired Cabernet Sauvignon | Heathcote | Australia | 2019 | Silver | |
| Emiliana Organic Vineyards | Adobe Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Central Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| Three Thieves Wines | Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2018 | Silver | |
| Cramele Recas | Castel Huniade Cabernet Sauvignon | Timis | Romania | 2019 | Silver | |
| Mascota Vineyards | La Mascota | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver | |
| Trapiche | Tesoro Cabernet Sauvignon | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver | |
| TerraMater | Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2020 | Bronze | |
| Siegel Family Wines | Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | O’Higgins | Chile | 2019 | Bronze | |
| El Esteco | Don David Blend Of Terroirs Cabernet Sauvignon | Cafayate | Argentina | 2020 | Bronze | |
| Nederburg | Nederburg The Manor Cabernet Sauvignon | Western Cape | SA | 2017 | Bronze | |
| Nederburg | Nederburg The Manor Cabernet Sauvignon | Western Cape | SA | 2018 | Bronze | |
| £10-£15 | ||||||
| Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Wakefield Taylors Cabernet Sauvignon | Clare Valley | Australia | 2019 | Gold | |
| Espíritu de Chile | Explorador | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Gold | |
| Bieler Family Wines | The Show Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2018 | Gold | |
| Trapiche | Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Gold | |
| Wakefield/Taylors Wines | One Giant Leap Cabernet Sauvignon | Clare Valley | Australia | 2018 | Silver | |
| Viña Aresti | Trisquel Gran reserva | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| De Bortoli Wines | Deen Vat 9 Cabernet Sauvignon | Heathcote & Yarra Valley | Australia | 2017 | Silver | |
| De Bortoli Wines | DB Winemaker Selection Cabernet Sauvignon | Hilltops & Heathcote | Australia | 2019 | Silver | |
| Emiliana Organic Vineyards | Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2018 | Silver | |
| Joel Gott Wines | 815 Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2018 | Silver | |
| Terrazas de los Andes | Terrazas de los Andes Reserva | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Silver | |
| Santa Rita | Medalla Real Gold Medal | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2018 | Silver | |
| Sur Andino | Cigar Box Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver | |
| El Esteco | El Esteco Cabernet Sauvignon | Cafayate | Argentina | 2020 | Silver | |
| El Esteco | El Esteco Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon | Cafayate | Argentina | 2020 | Silver | |
| Langmeil Winery | Offspring/Wild Child Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2019 | Silver | |
| Nepenthe | Altitude Cabernet Sauvignon | Adelaide Hills | Australia | 2018 | Silver | |
| Barossa Valley Wine Company | Gravel Track Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2018 | Silver | |
| TerraMater | Magis Limited Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Bronze | |
| Viña Los Boldos | Château Los Boldos Grande Réserve | Cachapoal Valley | Chile | 2019 | Bronze | |
| £15-£20 | ||||||
| Trapiche | Trapiche Gran Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Gold | |
| Sur Andino | Cabernario N°8 | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Gold | |
| Viña Siegel | Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | O’Higgins | Chile | 2017 | Silver | |
| El Esteco | Finca Notables | Cafayate | Argentina | 2018 | Silver | |
| Mascota Vineyards | Unánime Signature Cabernet Sauvignon | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Silver | |
| Barel Vineyards | Barel Vineyards Reserve | Marmara | Turkey | 2018 | Silver | |
| TerraMater | Altum Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| Barkan Wine Cellars | Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Upper Galilee | Israel | 2017 | Silver | |
| Viña Valdivieso | Cabernet Sauvignon Valley Selection | Rapel Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| San Pedro | 1865 Selected Vineyard | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| Carmen | Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| Sur Andino | Frida Kahlo Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| Top Wine Group | Sutil Grand Reserve | Maule Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| Top Wine Group | Sutil Limited Release | Maipo | Chile | 2018 | Silver | |
| Viña Los Boldos | Château Los Boldos Vieilles Vignes | O’Higgins | Chile | 2018 | Bronze | |
| Tapihue Wines | Q Gran Reserva | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Bronze | |
| £20-£30 | ||||||
| Finca Albret | Albret La Vina de Mi Madre | Navarra | Spain | 2016 | Master | |
| Murphy-Goode | Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2018 | Gold | |
| Napa Cellars | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2018 | Gold | |
| Chamlija | Teruar Serisi Sütlüce 2 | Strandja Mountains | Turkey | 2018 | Gold | |
| Santa Rita | Floresta Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Gold | |
| Trapiche | Terroir Series Cabernet Sauvignon | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Gold | |
| Langmeil Winery | Kernel Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| Nederburg | Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon | Western Cape | SA | 2017 | Gold | |
| Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon | Clare Valley | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| Alto Wine Estate | Alto Cabernet Sauvignon | Western Cape | SA | 2017 | Gold | |
| De Bortoli Wines | Melba Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2017 | Silver | |
| De Bortoli Wines | Melba Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2018 | Silver | |
| De Bortoli Wines | Melba Amphora Cabernet Sauvignon | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2019 | Silver | |
| Viña Tarapacá | Tarapacá Gran Reserva Etiqueta Negra | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| Tempus Two | Pewter Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2018 | Silver | |
| Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Masterstroke Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra | Australia | 2019 | Silver | |
| Pernod Ricard Winemakers | St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra | Australia | 2016 | Silver | |
| Barkan Wine Cellars | Altitude 585 | Upper Galilee | Israel | 2016 | Silver | |
| Barkan Wine Cellars | Altitude 624 | Upper Galilee | Israel | 2016 | Silver | |
| Barkan Wine Cellars | Altitude 720 | Upper Galilee | Israel | 2016 | Silver | |
| Cantina La Vis | Codros Cabernet Sauvignon | Trentino | Italy | 2015 | Silver | |
| Millaman | Paya de Millaman | Curicó Valley | Chile | 2018 | Bronze | |
| £30-£50 | ||||||
| Stonestreet Winery | Stonestreet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | Alexander Valley | USA | 2017 | Master | |
| Trinchero Napa Valley | Mario’’s Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2016 | Master | |
| L’Ecole No. 41 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Washington | USA | 2018 | Gold | |
| Smith & Hook | Smith & Hook Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2018 | Gold | |
| Masciarelli | Cabernet Sauvignon Colline Teatine IGT Marina Cvetic | Abruzzo | Italy | 2015 | Gold | |
| Wakefield/Taylors Wines | St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon | Clare Valley | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| The Lane Vineyard | 19th Meeting | Adelaide Hills | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| Hacienda Araucano | Gran Araucano | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2016 | Gold | |
| Gatt Wines | Gatt High Eden Cabernet Sauvignon | Eden Valley | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| Langmeil Winery | Jackaman’s Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| Chamlija | Teruar Serisi Sütlüce 3 | Strandja Mountains | Turkey | 2018 | Gold | |
| Chamlija | Teruar Serisi Sütlüce 1 | Strandja Mountains | Turkey | 2018 | Gold | |
| Chamlija | Teruar Serisi Sütlüce 6 | Strandja Mountains | Turkey | 2018 | Gold | |
| Pernod Ricard Winemakers | Orlando Jacaranda Ridge Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra | Australia | 2015 | Silver | |
| Viña Los Boldos | Château Los Boldos Grand Clos | O’Higgins | Chile | 2018 | Silver | |
| Miguel Torres Chile | Manso de Velasco | Curicó Valley | Chile | 2014 | Bronze | |
| £50+ | ||||||
| Terrazas de los Andes | Terrazas de los Andes Grand | Mendoza | Argentina | 2017 | Master | |
| Chamlija | Teruar Serisi Sütlüce 5 | Strandja Mountains | Turkey | 2018 | Master | |
| Pernod Ricard Winemakers | St Hugo Vetus Purum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra | Australia | 2013 | Master | |
| Santa Rita | Casa Real | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2018 | Gold | |
| Wakefield/Taylors Wines | The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon | Clare Valley | Australia | 2017 | Gold | |
| Hickinbotham | Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon | McLaren Vale | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| Trinchero Napa Valley | Trinchero Napa Valley BRV Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2016 | Gold | |
| Neyers Vineyards | Neyers Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2017 | Gold | |
Oaked blend
| Winery | Name of Wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal | |
| Under £10 | ||||||
| Santa Helena | Alpaca Premium | Central Valley | Chile | 2020 | Gold | |
| Cono Sur | Bicicleta Cabernet Sauvignon | Chile | Chile | 2019 | Gold | |
| Kenwood Vineyards | Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2017 | Silver | |
| Santa Helena | Reserva Siglo de Oro | Central Valley | Chile | 2020 | Bronze | |
| Concha y Toro | Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon | Central Valley | Chile | 2019 | Bronze | |
| Santa Helena | Santa Helena Varietal | Central Valley | Chile | 2020 | Bronze | |
| £10-£15 | ||||||
| Concha y Toro | Casillero del Diablo Reserva Privada | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2018 | Gold | |
| Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Taylor Made BDX | Clare Valley | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| Pasaeli | Pasaeli Kaynaklar | Azmir | Turkey | 2015 | Gold | |
| Santa Rita | Medalla Real Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2018 | Gold | |
| Santa Rita | Medalla Real Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2020 | Gold | |
| Concha y Toro | Casillero del Diablo Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon | Maule Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| Holden Manz Wine Estate | Big G | Franschhoek | SA | 2016 | Silver | |
| Château Tanunda | Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2019 | Silver | |
| Viña Morandé | Morandé Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver | |
| Langmeil Winery | Gentry Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2017 | Silver | |
| £15-£20 | ||||||
| Vik | A Cabernet Sauvignon | Cachapoal Valley | Chile | 2018 | Gold | |
| Viña Aresti | Family Collection | Curicó Valley | Chile | 2017 | Gold | |
| Viña Morandé | Morandé Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2018 | Silver | |
| Los Vascos | Cromas Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2018 | Silver | |
| Church Road | McDonald Series Cabernet Sauvignon | Hawkes Bay | NZ | 2018 | Silver | |
| £20-£30 | ||||||
| Kenwood Vineyards | Jack London Cabernet Sauvignon | Sonoma Mountain | USA | 2017 | Gold | |
| Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates | Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Sonoma County | USA | 2018 | Gold | |
| DAOU Family Estates | DAOU Family Estates Cabernet Sauvignon | Paso Robles | USA | 2018 | Gold | |
| Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Masterstroke Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz | Clare Valley | Australia | 2016 | Gold | |
| Château Tanunda | The Château Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2018 | Silver | |
| Bodega Piedra Negra | Gran Lurton | Mendoza | Argentina | 2017 | Silver | |
| TerraMater | Unusual Cabernet-Shiraz-Zinfandel | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2017 | Silver | |
| Yalumba | The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra | Australia | 2017 | Silver | |
| £30-£50 | ||||||
| Trefethen Family Vineyards | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2018 | Master | |
| Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates | Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Sonoma County | USA | 2018 | Gold | |
| Château Tanunda | 50 Year Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| Conti di San Bonifacio | Docet | Tuscany | Italy | 2014 | Gold | |
| Carmen | Delanz Alto Jahuel | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Gold | |
| Terre à Terre | Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz | Wrattonbully | Australia | 2018 | Gold | |
| Concha y Toro | Cellar Edition Cabernet Sauvignon | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2019 | Gold | |
| Vik | Milla Calla | Cachapoal Valley | Chile | 2017 | Gold | |
| Church Road | 1 Cabernet Sauvignon | Hawkes Bay | NZ | 2018 | Silver | |
| £50+ | ||||||
| Barkan Wine Cellars | Superieur Cabernet Sauvignon | Upper Galilee | Israel | 2016 | Master | |
| Freemark Abbey | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2017 | Master | |
| Carmen | Gold | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2018 | Master | |
| Pernod Ricard Winemakers | Jacob’s Creek Expedition Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra | Australia | 2016 | Gold | |
| Vasse Felix | Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec | Margaret River | Australia | 2016 | Gold | |
| Mt Brave | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2017 | Gold | |
| Terre a Terre | Crayères Vineyard Reserve | Wrattonbully | Australia | 2016 | Gold | |
| Los Vascos | Le Dix | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2017 | Gold | |
| DAOU Family Estates | Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Paso Robles | USA | 2018 | Gold | |
| Concha y Toro | Master Edition Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2018 | Silver | |
About the competition
With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters provides a chance for your wines to star, whether they hail from a famous region for the grape or a lesser-known winemaking area of the world.
The top wines are awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stand out as being outstanding in their field receive the ultimate accolade – the title of Cabernet Sauvignon Master.
Please visit The Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com
Read more
The top 10 Cabernet trends of 2021
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