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The show stoppers from the db Asia Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2024

11 July 2024 By Cecilia Wong

Cecilia Wong takes us through the selection of wines that stood out at the drinks business Asia Cabernet Sauvignon Masters, showcasing the impressive range of this iconic grape variety.

Retro gold microphone on red cloth background.

When we talk about red wine, which grape variety comes to mind? Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the red grapes that tops the list, being one of the world’s most popular and most widely planted. You can find it in all major wine producing countries, from France, Italy and Spain to the US, Australia, Chile, South Africa and many more.

It originated as a crossing between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux, France, and remains famous today as one of the varieties fundamental to a Bordeaux blend.

Some Cabernet Sauvignon wines are more fruit-forward, while others are more savoury and herbaceous – it all depends on where it grows and how the wine is made. The classic style of Cabernet Sauvignon wine is usually full-bodied, with medium to high acidity and tannins, and is famous for its ageing potential.

In cooler wine-growing regions, Cabernet Sauvignon wines tend to have black-fruit notes with some green bell pepper, minty, toasty, and tobacco notes. In warmer wine-growing regions, it tends to have more ripe dark-fruit flavours, and can sometimes be quite jammy.

In all, 26 Cabernet Sauvignon expressions from all over the world – including Italy, Chile, US, South Africa, China, Australia, and New Zealand – were blind tasted by a panel of expert judges for the drinks business Asia Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2024. The judges awarded just one Master award, alongside five Gold awards, 14 Silver medals and six Bronzes.

This year’s panel included: Cecilia Wong, co-chair of the drinks business Asia Masters; Esther Poon, senior sommelier at Feuille restaurant in Hong Kong; and Ronald Mok, managing director of Hong Kong’s Somm Wine Cellar. The tasting took place at Metro Workspace, Central, Hong Kong.

The entries showcased diverse and interesting expressions, categorised from single-varietal to blends, unoaked or oaked, in various price ranges. The judges awarded the sole Master award to Wakefield Taylors Family Wines The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, from Clare Valley, Australia (price range HK$1,000–HK$1,100). This oaked wine was a single-varietal made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. All the judges found it to be very well balanced, elegant, and with good structure. The wine has a deep ruby colour, intense aromas and with dark plum, blackberries, redcurrant, toast, cedar, cassis, a hint of mint, and earthy and spice notes.

“It is very aromatic. It has a great structure and the tannins are very silky. It is a very good wine,” said Somm Wine Cellar’s Mok.

Among the five Gold awards, there were three oaked Cabernet Sauvignons. One of the Golds went to Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, from Western Cape, South Africa (price range HK$201–HK$250), made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with a “deep ruby colour, elegant and with violet, black plum, blackberries, toasty, licorice, sweet spices, and cocoa notes”.

Another Gold award went to Church Road 1 Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (price range HK$550–HK$600), made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with “good acidity and structure, as well as lavender, toasty, black currant, blackberries, cedar and spice notes”.

In the HK$701–HK$750 price range, a Gold award went to Hoosegg Double Happy Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, from Orange, New South Wales, Australia. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is ”aromatic with violets, roses, vanilla, black plum, black pepper and sweet spices notes”. Cecilia Wong said of the wine: “It’s elegant, aromatic, and with intense structure. It has fine-grained tannins, approachable, charming fruity notes, and is well balanced. It has good ageing potential. It’s one of my favourites of the day.”

In the oaked blend category, two Gold awards were given out. One went to Taylors Taylor Made Cabernet Malbec 2021, from Clare Valley, Australia, (price range HK$100–HK$150). The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 14 months, made from 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec, with “toasty, blackcurrant, licorice, cedar, and a hint of mint”. Judge Esther Poon described the wine as “balanced and well integrated”. She said: “It’s very good value for money.”

The final Gold award went to Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, from Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, US (price range HK$450–HK$500). Aged in French oak for 13 months, the wine is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec, and has a “deep ruby colour, with intense ripe black cherries, blackberries, toasty, earthy and savoury notes”.

Cabernet Sauvignon Unoaked 100%

Winery	Name of Wine	Region	Country	Vint	Medal
Below HK$100
Zonnebloem	Table Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon	Western Cape	South Africa	2023	Bronze

Cabernet Sauvignon Oaked 100%

Winery	Name of Wine	Region	Country	Vint	Medal
Below HK$100
Nederburg	The Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon	Western Cape	South Africa	2020	Silver
Durbanville Hills	Collectors Reserve The Castle of Good Hope Cabernet Sauvignon	Durbanville	South Africa	2022	Silver
Taylors Wines	Taylors Promised Land Cabernet Sauvignon	South Australia	Australia	2022	Silver
Nederburg	Cape Garden Cabernet Sauvignon	Stellenbosch	South Africa	2020	Bronze
HK$100-HKS150
Cavit	Bottega Vinai Cabernet Sauvignon Trentino Doc	Trentino	Italy	2021	Silver
De Bortoli Wines	De Bortoli Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon	Yarra Valley	Australia	2021	Silver
Wakefield Taylors Family Wines	Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon	Clare Valley	Australia	2020	Silver
Wakefield Taylors Family Wines	One Giant Leap Cabernet Sauvignon	Limestone Clare Valley	Coast/Australia	2021	Silver
Wakefield Taylors Family Wines	Well Natured Cabernet Sauvignon	Wrattonbully	Australia	2022	Silver
HK$201-HK$250
Nederburg	Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon	Western Cape	South Africa	2019	Gold
De Bortoli Wines	De Bortoli Melba Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon	Yarra Valley	Australia	2018	Silver
HK$350-HKS400
Wakefield Taylors Family Wines	St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon	Clare Valley	Australia	2020	Silver
HK$400-HK$450
De Bortoli Wines	De Bortoli Melba Amphora Cabernet Sauvignon	Yarra Valley	Australia	2022	Silver
HK$550-HK$600
Church Road	Church Road 1 Cabernet Sauvignon	Hawkes Bay	New Zealand	2021	Gold
HK$650-HKS700
Sino-French Joint-Venture Dynasty Winery	Dynasty Premier Royal Selection – Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2008	Tianjin	China	2008	Bronze
HKS701-HKS750
Hoosegg by Philip Shaw	Hoosegg Double Happy Cabernet Sauvignon	Orange NSW	Australia	2018	Gold
HK$1,000-HK$1, 100
Wakefield Taylors Family Wines	The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon	Clare Valley	Australia	2019	Master

Cabernet Sauvignon Oaked Blend

Winery	Name of Wine	Region	Country	Vint	Medal
Below HK$100
Nederburg	The Winemasters Cabernet Sauvignon	Western Cape	South Africa	2022	Silver
HK$100-HKS150
Wakefield Taylors Family	Taylors Taylor Made Cabernet Malbec	Clare Valley	Australia	2021	Gold
Wines Church Road	Church Road McDonald Series Cabernet Sauvignon	Hawkes Bay	New Zealand	2021	Bronze
HK$151-HK$200 Vik	A	Millahue,	Chile	2022	Silver
Wakefield Taylors Family Wines	Masterstroke Cabernet Shiraz	Cachapoal Valley Clare Valley	Australia	2019	Silver
HK$250-HKS300
Cavit	Quattro Vicariati Trentino Superiore Doc	Trentino	Italy	2021	Bronze
Viña San Pedro Tarapacá	1865 Heritage Blend	Central Valley	Chile	2019	Bronze
HK$450-HK$500
Jordan Vineyard & Winery	Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon	Alexander valley	United States	2019	Gold