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The medal-winning wines from the Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2022

Following judging last month, we are able to reveal the full list of medal-winning wines from this year’s Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters, featuring outstanding wines from Washington State to the Western Cape, and Sonoma to South Australia.

With a low-yielding habit, and thick-skinned berries, Cabernet Sauvignon is best-known for yielding dark, concentrated wines with a high tannin content. Such attributes, while appealing when sourcing a drop for a hearty dinner, are daunting when it’s 9am, and you have several samples to assess.

But this year’s entries for the Global Cabernet Masters did not prove tiring to taste. Rather, they were a delight, reflecting a shift in vineyard techniques and cellar handling to produce wines with less weight and extract, more freshness and softness.

That’s not to suggest the wines had moved away from what makes this grape distinctive and delicious – a result of its inherent cassis and cedar characters, and firm structure – but merely that such Cabernet qualities had been harnessed in a less heavy-handed manner.

And that wasn’t the only general observation drawn from a day’s tasting nothing but wines made from this grape, or at least dominated by it. Another conclusion concerned a different Cabernet trait: its preponderance to producing Pyrazines; that note of capsicum giving a green scent and a crunchy edge to the taste.

While past Masters have noted this character cropping up fairly commonly, in 2022’s samples, it was rare, and where greener notes were detected, it was most likely a subtle hint of leaf, dried mint, or eucalyptus – flavours that brought a coolness to the wine, rather than an unripe edge.

So, it seems Cabernet makers have, for the most part, struck an appealing middle ground in terms of fruit ripeness, power and structure with this famous, and widely-planted grape. Furthermore, we had some brilliant blends, with grapes from Merlot to Carmenère, Syrah and Cabernet Franc helping to add complexity, and, in some cases, providing a touch of mid-palate breadth to the Cabernet, that can, depending on where it’s grown, and how it’s handled, be a touch austere in isolation.

But what were the highlights from the competition? While this was mostly a tasting of Cabernets from beyond the boundaries of Europe, the top performers were from California and Australia, although there were some stars from South Africa, Argentina, and Chile – and within Europe, Turkey and Italy too.

If one were asked to pick out a couple of exceptional wines, they would, in my view, be a pair of bottles at either end of the price scale.

The first of these was the Casillero del Diablo Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon: a brilliant example of Chile’s ability to craft polished reds at a keen price using Maipo Valley fruit. Featuring a seasoning of Syrah and Cabernet Franc, although more than 90% Cabernet, this wine had plenty of red and black fruit, a hint of spice, dried mint, cedar and chocolate, and texturally, a medium-weight appeal with a finely-tannic finish.

At the other end of the spectrum, our priciest wine of the tasting was also the best. At around £350, Penfolds Bin 707 is expensive, and a highly collectable label, and having tasted it blind, one can see why. A complete wine now, but with many years ahead of it, this youthful taste of a powerful wine brought smiles to the judges faces for its pure, intense, blackcurrant flavours, chocolate and coconut notes, and wonderful balance between ripeness and freshness, roundness and dryness. Truly, this was a Master of its type – and our best Cabernet of 2022.

Please see below for a list of all the medal-winning wines, starting with 100% Cabernets, and followed by blended versions, for which Cabernet is the dominant grape.

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Unoaked 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Under £10
Cramele Recas Castel Huniade Banat Romania 2020 Silver
Cramele Recas Sanziana Banat Romania 2020 Silver
Bodegas La Purísima Consentido Murcia Spain 2021 Silver
£10-£15
Les Vignobles André Lurton Bla Bla (avec toi) Bordeaux France 2020 Silver

 

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Oaked 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Under £10
Distell Nederburg Winemasters Western Cape South Africa 2020 Silver
Bodegas y Viñedos Pascual Toso Toso Estate Mendoza Argentina 2021 Silver
Kavaklıdere Egeo Aegean Turkey 2018 Silver
Concha y Toro Gran Reserva Colchagua Valley Chile 2020 Silver
Holden Manz Cabernet Sauvignon Franschhoek South Africa 2019 Bronze
Millaman Estate Reserve Curicó Valley Chile 2020 Bronze
Distell Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Castle of Good Hope Western Cape South Africa 2019 Bronze
Viña Los Boldos Château Los Boldos, Tradition Réserve Cachapoal Valley Chile 2020 Bronze
Siegel Family Wines Handpicked Reserva Colchagua Valley Chile 2021 Bronze
Sur Valles Wine Group Santa Alba Reserve Central Valley Chile 2019 Bronze
Fecovita Finca Magnolia Reserve Mendoza Argentina 2021 Bronze
£10-£15
Veramonte Reserva Organic Colchagua Valley Chile 2019 Silver
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Limestone Coast/Clare Valley Australia 2020 Silver
Yedi Bilgeler Solon Attica İzmir Turkey 2020 Silver
Distell Nederburg Manor House Western Cape South Africa 2018 Silver
Cono Sur Single Vineyard Maipo Valley Chile 2019 Silver
Mission Estate Winery Mission Reserve Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2019 Silver
Millaman Limited Reserve Curicó Valley Chile 2020 Silver
TerraMater Magis Limited Reserve Maipo Valley Chile 2020 Silver
Siegel Family Wines Gran Reserva Colchagua Valley Chile 2020 Silver
Menage a Trois Wines Decadence California USA 2019 Silver
Viña Valdivieso Valley Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley Chile 2020 Silver
Viña Doña Paula Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Luján de Cuyo Argentina 2021 Bronze
ACW Espíritu de Chile Explorador Maipo Valley Chile 2019 Bronze
Three Thieves Wines Cabernet Sauvignon California USA 2019 Bronze
Heathcote SUB 3 Clava Reserva Maipo Valley Chile 2020 Bronze
Santa Carolina Carolina Gran Reserva Maule Valley Chile 2019 Bronze
£15-£20
Joel Gott Wines 815 Cabernet Sauvignon California USA 2019 Gold
Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon California USA 2019 Gold
TerraMater Altum Single Vineyard Maipo Valley Chile 2019 Silver
Sula Vineyards RASA Cabernet Sauvignon Nashik India 2020 Silver
Berton Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra Australia 2018 Silver
Cramele Recas Selene Banat Romania 2019 Silver
Langmeil Winery Wild Child Barossa Valley Australia 2020 Silver
Langmeil Winery Jackaman’s Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Silver
Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Argentina 2019 Bronze
Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Barossa Valley Australia 2020 Bronze
Viña Morandé Morande Gran Reserva Maipo Valley Chile 2020 Bronze
Viña Morandé Valdivieso Single Vineyard Maipo Valley Chile 2019 Bronze
£20-£30
Distell Nederburg Private Bin R163 Western Cape South Africa 2018 Master
Millaman Paya de Millaman Curicó Valley Chile 2019 Gold
Distell Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Western Cape South Africa 2018 Gold
Distell Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Western Cape South Africa 2019 Gold
Alto Wine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch South Africa 2018 Silver
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Jaraman Coonawarra/Clare Valley Australia 2019 Silver
Bodega Luigi Bosca De Sangre Mendoza Argentina 2019 Silver
Langmeil Winery Blacksmith Barossa Australia 2019 Silver
Daou Family Estates Harrods Californian Cabernet Sauvignon California USA 2019 Silver
Kilikanoon Blocks Road Clare Valley Australia 2018 Silver
Los Helechos Cabernet Sauvignon Uco Valley Argentina 2016 Silver
Fecovita Mundialista Champion Selection – Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Argentina 2020 Silver
Langmeil Winery Kernel Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Silver
Château Tanunda The Château Single Vineyard Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Silver
Cramele Recas La Stejari Banat Romania 2018 Silver
Finca Albret Albret La Viña de Mi Madre Navarra Spain 2018 Bronze
Bodegas Tagua Tagua Descomplicados Maule Valley Chile 2020 Bronze
£30-£50
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Washington USA 2018 Master
Gatt Wines Gatt High Eden Eden Valley Australia 2016 Master
Wakefield/Taylors Wines St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley Australia 2019 Gold
Chamlija Cabernet Sauvignon Strandja Mountains Turkey 2019 Gold
Gatt Wines Gatt Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Gold
Kendall-Jackson Jackson Estate Hawkeye Alexander Valley USA 2018 Gold
Masciarelli Colline Teatine IGT Marina Cvetic Abruzzo Italy 2017 Gold
Mazzei Philip Tuscany Italy 2018 Gold
Trinchero Napa Valley Marios Napa Valley USA 2018 Gold
Schild Estate Wines Lorraine Schild Barossa Valley Australia 2020 Silver
Orlando Wines Jacaranda Ridge Coonawarra Coonawarra Australia 2018 Silver
Miguel Torres Chile Manso de Velasco Maule Valley Chile 2018 Silver
St Hugo Wines Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra Australia 2018 Silver
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Masterstroke Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra Australia 2020 Bronze
£50-£70
Stag Leap’s Wine Cellar Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon California USA 2019 Gold
Château Tanunda 50 Year Old Vines Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Gold
Terrazas de los Andes Terrazas de los Andes Grand Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Argentina 2019 Silver
Church Road Church Road 1 Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2019 Silver
Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon Washington USA 2017 Silver
£70-£100
Wakefield/Taylors Wines The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley Australia 2018 Gold
Hickinbotham Hickinbotham Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale Australia 2019 Silver
£100+
Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Padthaway Australia 2019 Master
Cono Sur Silencio Maipo Valley Chile 2017 Gold
Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Coonawarra Australia 2019 Gold

 

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Unoaked Blend
Under £10
Cono Sur Bicicleta Central Valley Chile 2021 Silver

 

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vintage Medal
Oaked Blend
Under £10
Luis Felipe Edwards LFE Cabernet Gran Reserva Colchagua Valley Chile 2021 Silver
Viña Concha y Toro Trio Reserva Maule Valley Chile 2020 Bronze
£10-£15
Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Reserva Privada Maipo Valley Chile 2019 Gold
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Bourbon Barrel-Aged California USA 2019 Silver
Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Central Valley Chile 2020 Silver
Cono Sur Organic Gran Reserva Colchagua Valley Chile 2019 Silver
Holden Manz Big G Franschhoek South Africa 2017 Bronze
Viña Sur Andino Cigar Box Old Vine Maipo Valley Chile 2021 Bronze
Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Reserva Especial Maule Valley Chile 2020 Bronze
£15-£20
Vistamar Gran Reserva Cachapoal Andes Valley Chile 2019 Gold
Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay New Zealand 2018 Gold
Orlando Wines Bungalow Lane Barossa Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Gold
Vik Winery A Cabernet Sauvignon Cachapoal Valley Chile 2020 Silver
SeaGlass Wine Company SeaGlass Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast USA 2019 Silver
Viña Sur Andino Cabernario N°6 Special Selection Maipo Valley Chile 2019 Silver
Cono Sur 20 Barrels Maipo Valley Chile 2018 Silver
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon California USA 2019 Silver
Viña Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva Colchagua Valley Chile 2018 Silver
Yedi Bilgeler Pythagoras Denizli İzmir Turkey 2020 Bronze
Top Wine Group Sutil Limited Release Maipo Andes Chile 2019 Bronze
Luis Felipe Edwards 360º Colchagua Valley Chile 2019 Bronze
Viña Sur Andino Cabernario N°8 Maipo Valley Chile 2020 Bronze
£20-£30
SIMI SIMI Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Sonoma County USA 2019 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Taylor Made BDX Clare Valley/Coonawarra Australia 2019 Gold
Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley USA 2019 Gold
Langmeil Winery Legendary Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Gold
Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County USA 2019 Silver
Yalumba Yalumba Wines Coonawarra Australia 2018 Silver
Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Maipo Chile 2019 Silver
Wines by Geoff Hardy K1 by Geoff Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon Adelaide Hills Australia 2018 Silver
Vilafonté Seriously Old Dirt Western Cape South Africa 2019 Silver
Viña Valdivieso Caballo Loco Grand Cru Maipo Maipo Chile 2019 Silver
The Prisoner Wine Company Unshackled California USA 2019 Silver
Charles Smith Wines Chateau Smith Washington State USA 2018 Bronze
£30-£50
Trefethen Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley USA 2019 Master
Vik Milla Cala Cachapoal Valley Chile 2018 Gold
Belguardo Tenuta Belguardo Maremma Toscana Italy 2018 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Masterstroke Cabernet Shiraz Clare Valley Australia 2018 Gold
Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Selected Casks Cachapoal Valley Chile 2019 Silver
Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River Australia 2019 Silver
Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County USA 2019 Silver
Terre a Terre Crayere Reserve Wrattonbully Australia 2018 Silver
Terre a Terre Crayeres Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Wrattonbully Australia 2019 Bronze
£50-£70
Bodega Luigi Bosca Luigi Bosca Finca Los Nobles Mendoza Argentina 2018 Gold
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz Padthaway, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, Barossa Valley Australia 2019 Gold
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley USA 2017 Silver
Concha y Toro Master Edition Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley Chile 2019 Silver
£70-£100
Mt Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley USA 2018 Master
Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley USA 2018 Gold

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

The wines for this year’s Global Cabernet Masters were judged on 17 June by the following members of the trade:

  • Patrick Schmitt MW
  • Andrea Briccarello
  • Siobhan Turner MW
  • Tim Tiptree MW
  • Jonathan Pedley MW
  • Patricia Stefanowicz MW
  • Matthew Stubbs MW
  • Miles Corish MW
  • Matthieu Longuère MS

Read more

Top 12 Cabernet Sauvignons of 2022

The top 10 Cabernet trends of 2021

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