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10 wines from the Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2024
Wines from across the world, whether from Australia, the US, South Africa, India or Turkey, have performed strongly at this year’s Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters. Here are 10 medal-winning wines from the competition.
Tasting notes are from Patrick Schmitt MW, Patricia Stefanowicz MW and Siobhan Turner MW.
MAI DIRE MAI FEAR NO DARK IGT 2020
Producer: Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine Spa
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Grape varieties: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Oseleta
ABV: 14.5%
Approx. retail price: £60
Medal: Gold
From the inaugural vintage of this fascinating wine called Fear no Dark, this Cabernet-dominant blend hails from Pasqua’s 40-year-old vines in the Veneto, and features a 5% peppering of native grape Oselato, which brings spice and freshness, like Petit Verdot does in Bordeaux. The result is a wine that’s now starting to evolve, with a touch of stewed cherry, along with plums and crunchy currants, then toast and cedar from its time in barriques, and a touch of tobacco leaf as well as sage on the grippy, finely tannic finish. A lovely, refreshing Italian alternative to classic claret. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
ARÍNZANO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019
Producer: Arínzano
Region: Navarra
Country: Spain
Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 15%
Approx. retail price: £30
Medal: Gold
Due to Navarra’s past connections with France, there is a long history of working with Bordeaux grapes in this part of Spain, and with first-rate results. One Navarran flagship producer is Arínzano, which has proved the quality attainable with Cabernet – as well as Merlot – in this northern area of Iberia. This pure Cab hails from the 2019 vintage and is just starting to show some evolution, featuring some cooked cherry and sweet balsamic notes. But the core is concentrated, inky, ripe blackcurrant, mixed with white chocolate and refreshing dry tannin – a complete, powerful and structured wine that’s a relatively affordable alternative to Bordeaux, Tuscan or Napa Cab. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
CHURCH ROAD GRAND RESERVE CABERNET MERLOT MALBEC 2021
Producer: Church Road
Region: Hawke’s Bay
Country: New Zealand
Grape varieties: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Malbec
ABV: 14%
Approx. retail price: £17.50
Medal: Gold
A great example of a Bordeaux blend from New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay region, this red from Church Road is a Cabernet-dominant drop of depth and quality. Intensely flavoured, there’s sweet black fruit, along with ripe cherry and raspberry, then some smooth, creamy chocolate notes, augmenting the wine’s soft, juicy appeal. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
CONO SUR SILENCIO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019
Producer: Cono Sur
Region: Maipo Valley
Country: Chile
Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14.6%
Approx. retail price: £60
Medal: Gold
Cono Sur ’s icon wine, Silencio, is grown on mixed low-fertility soils, comprising alluvial, gravel, sand and clay, in high-altitude Maipo sites with low rainfall and high diurnal swing, allowing the grapes to keep great acidity while achieving phenolic ripeness. Deep ruby-purple-hued, the wine has black fruit and redcurrant, and tobacco oak, with hints of sweet red pepper, mint and thyme. Dry, the palate shows racy acidity and velvet tannins framing the flavours.
Nicely defined, balanced and long, the wine is very attractive and would pair well with ‘the ultimate burger ’ of minced rump and sirloin with a little bone marrow blended in. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
SULA VINEYARDS RĀSĀ CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022
Producer: Sula Vineyards Ltd.
Region: Maharastra
Country: India
Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14%
Approx. retail price: £17.99
Medal: Gold
Founded by Rajeev Samant in 1994 at his family’s property in the Nashik Valley, Sula Vineyards is possibly the finest of India’s burgeoning wine industry. Based in Maharastra state in western India, just northeast of Mumbai, the region is well-known for the high quality of its wines. This expressive Cabernet is delightful, exhibiting a deep ruby colour and crunchy black fruits, accented by sweet coconut oak, tobacco and floral lift. Dry, mid-weight, the palate shows lively acidity and linen tannins, nicely integrated, and balanced and spicy. An attractive wine, it is recommended with kebabs or with kadai paneer – a dish of Indian cheese sautéed with tomatoes, garlic and ginger and finished with a paste of red chillies, cardamom, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, cloves and a hint of cinnamon, then garnished with cashews and fresh coriander. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
CHAMLIJA SUI GENERIS 2020
Producer: Chamlija
Region: Strandja Mountain
Country: Turkey
Grape varieties: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
ABV: 15%
Approximate retail price: £33
Medal: Gold
It feels as if every one of these tastings has at least one fantastic wine from Turkey in the line-up, which is very exciting to see – and taste. This one has an opulent, ripe and pure nose, with blackberry and some oak spice. On the palate it is warming and ripe, with chunky tannins and beautiful fruit purity.
Perfect with grilled lamb and spicy aubergines. (Siobhan Turner MW)
TOKARA DIRECTOR’S RESERVE RED 2021
Producer: Tokara
Region: Stellenbosch
Country: South Africa
Grape varieties: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot
ABV: 14%
Approximate retail price: £37
Medal: Master
The deep ruby colour is testament to the ripe, complex and deep nose of damson, mulberry, blackberry and spice, with a creamy, spicy oak and vanilla overlay. The palate is gorgeous, with a beautiful balance between the ripe but grainy tannins, fresh acidity and warm alcohol. On the finish, it has great fruit concentration, and yet both great complexity and a profound elegance. I was fortunate enough to take the leftovers of this bottle home, and served it with a côte de boeuf that night, with which it went beautifully. (Siobhan Turner MW)
YETTALIL 2021
Producer: Clos du Val
Region: Stags Leap District, Napa Valley
Country: USA
Grape varieties: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec, 7% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
ABV: 14.3%
Approx. retail price: £160
Medal: Master
Launched in 2022 with the 2019 vintage, Yettalil is the ultimate expression from Clos du Val, named in memory of winery owner Olav Goelet’s grandmother Henrietta, who was known affectionately as Yettalil. Using almost the full gamut of Bordeaux varieties from Napa’s great Stags Leap District, this is an exciting addition to the world of fine Cabernetdominant blends. Tasted blind in April this year, this 2021 vintage wowed for its intense colour, aroma and palate, with characters ranging from cassis to raspberry and dark cherry, then bay leaf and plum, followed by creamy chocolate, vanilla and toast. While the core is rich and ripe, the finish is fresh and dry, with a lingering note of cedar, as well as dense, mouth-coating tannins to make you salivate. Delicious now, with a long life ahead of it. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
LA LINTERNA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018
Producer: Bemberg Estate Wines
Region: Cafayate – Salta
Country: Argentina
Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14%
Approximate retail price: £76
Medal: Master
Pronounced and surprisingly youthful intensity of pure dark fruit on the nose, with mulberry, plum and blackberry, and layered cinnamon and clove. Wonderful palate texture, with ripe, polished tannins, a firm structure, beautifully pure fruit and, again, surprisingly youthful. Beautifully balanced. The perfect wine for a very posh roast. (Siobhan Turner MW)
HOOSEGG DOUBLE HAPPY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019
Producer: Hoosegg by Philip Shaw
Region: Orange, New South Wales
Country: Australia
Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 13.2%
Approx. retail price: £75
Medal: Master
Iconic wine producer Philip Shaw states: “We should always be able to pursue quality for quality’s sake … It has always been difficult to align the best vineyards and the best fruit with the opportunity to make top wines.” From his own vineyard, Koomooloo in the Orange district, he has been able to achieve this aim. This Cabernet is very nearly perfect. Deep ruby-purple-coloured, the bouquet is beautiful, aromatic and perfumed, showing intense red and blackcurrants and integrated, gentle, toasty oak with a violet lift. Dry, sweet-fruited the wine has bracing acidity and dense, silky-textured tannins supporting the flavours.
Concentrated, layered and textured, the wine is lingering and complex. A worthy partner for seared calves liver with minced garlic and chives, finished with lime juice and white wine. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
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