What Is The Best Inexpensive Cabernet Wine
People are always asking what the best inexpensive Cabernet and the truth is they can be hard to find. I have spent decades trying to perfect our Liberty School Cabernet for just this reason, a wine of true varietal character with great value.
A good inexpensive cabernet should smell like cabernet, with currants, spice aromas, and cherry flavors on the palate. Just because it is inexpensive the wine should not lack balanced acidity and soft tannins.
While the best cabernet sauvignon wines are typically going to be more expensive, there are still some good inexpensive cabernets available out there, you just have to know where to look.
Best Cabernet Sauvignon Wines In Napa Valley
What Is the Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in Napa Valley, California. It might be native to Bordeaux, France, but it has found a paradise on the US West Coast. The Napa Valley appellation is home to sixteen AVAs and over 400 wineries, producing some of the worlds best Cabernets. In fact, most Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys almost cult status, and you might need to get on a waiting list in order to purchase some of the best bottles.
Yet, whether your budget is limited or unlimited, it doesnt matter, since there are options for everyone. The same goes for tastes. Whether youre into rich, fruit-forward wines or rustic, age-worthy wines, Napa Valley has something for everyone. Read on to find out the best Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon:
| Best Overall |
Tasting Notes
A chewy red from Stags Leap, packed with notes of black fruits, chocolate, tobacco, and mocha. Full-bodied with a savory finish, and fine-grained tannins. One of the best-selling Cabernet Sauvignon wines in Napa Valley. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon of solid value. The wine starts with a nose of dark fruits, like blackberries, blackcurrants, and blueberries.
These are followed by notes of tobacco, mocha, lead pencil, and chocolate. The body is structured. It has tastes of prunes, brambles, figs, dried herbs, and lavenders. Hints of leather are present, too. The tannins are fine-grained and elegant, while the finish has plenty of lengths.
Why Tannins Are Important In Creating The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Wine
Once our vineyards were secured, the process is started: how to get our Cabernet Sauvignon to have soft, smooth, supple tannins that are balanced and structured. The process of understanding tannins has been my lifes work and it is a fascinating one at that. When tannins are managed correctly, they can supply intensity on the palate from start to finish. Because our grapes are farmed in a certain capacity the yield for tannins is high. Starting with high tannins is crucial, tannins cannot come from just the oak in a barrel. Through our selection of yeasts along with fermentation techniques the high tannins become soft, rich and balanced.
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Best Australian: 2018 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: South Australia | ABV: 14.5% | Tasting Notes: Tomato leaf, Brown butter, Mocha
Try cabernet the Aussie way with this fruity rendition from Penfolds. This South Australian multi-regional blend is made with grapes from the countrys cooler climates, maturing in French and American oak for a full year. The result is this deep and structured wine thats worth crossing the Pacific for.
Youll find aromas of blackberry compote, on-the-vine tomato leaf, cassis, and brown butter sage out the gate. This is a medium-bodied wine with wispy tannins and flavors of black and red currant, cherry and nutty mocha. This wine tastes excellent today, but will also improve over the next decade.
Region: Colchagua Valley, Chile | ABV: 15% | Tasting Notes: Blackberry, Crème de cassis, Olive tapenade
The Lapostolle family is Chilean royalty, and a member of the family, Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle, is president and CEO of Clos Apalta. With the help of two notable French winemakers, Michele Rolland and Jacques Begarie, they are producing some of the best cabernet blends on earth.
With 64% carménère, 19% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot, this is a compact red, bursting at the seams with black raspberry, blackberry, red currants, crème de cassis and olive tapenade. Grippy, powerful tannins are underscored by savory tobacco, mint, and cacaoall leading to a focused and harmonious finish.
Producing The Best Flavors For Cabernet Wine
Oak plays a major role in developing intense rich flavors on the palette. Our oak barrels are sourced from all over the world. Myself and our team have developed an aging process of the staves, which differs from other producers.
The oak staves are air dried for much longer before the barrels are put together and toasted. The production facility follows a unique toasting protocol that helps soften the tannins in the wood residing richer oak flavors that are well balanced.
The Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon lives in new French oak barrels to intensify the already rich, ripe fruit flavors and aromas of the wine. Quality oak barrels add up in cost, as do the vineyard selections and farming methods practiced in the end its money well spent.
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Best Winter Wine To Serve With Pasta: Mateus Nicolau De Almeida O Clarete
This red wine from Portugals Douro Valley is a blend of native Portuguese varietals consisting of 15 percent white grapes, Aubin explains. The reds are balanced beautifully with the white malvasia fina, and the resulting blend falls somewhere within the spectrum between a light red and a deep rosé. This mixture of grapes is slightly macerated and bottled unfined and unfiltered, meaning you get to experience the real flavor of the fruit in the glassno additives included. Best served with a slight chill, O Claret is full of aromatic notes of fig, eucalyptus and plum, Aubin continues, and is begging to be served with a big bowl of noodles .
O Tinto Perfeito – O Clarete NV
O Tinto Perfeito – O Clarete NV
The Most Popular Cabernet Sauvignons And How We Rated Them
If you were to ask someone to name a red wine grape, chances are Cabernet Sauvignon would be one of most common responses. Found in many iconic wine regions across the globe, from Bordeaux to Stellenbosch, this full-bodied red has undoubtedly captured the hearts and palates of many wine lovers.
We combed through our database of nearly 24,000 Cabernet Sauvignon reviews to find the top bottles searched and viewed on Wine Enthusiast. Though California bottles ranging from the Central Coast to the Napa Valley dominate the list, offerings from Washington State and Chiles Maipo Valley were also shown to have a large number of fans. Through blind tastings with our expert reviewers, heres how we scored eight of the Cabs that are most popular with readers.
OShaughnessy 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon $75, 97 points. This is such an outstanding wine at any price, but here were talking about outstanding value as well. Notes of iron and crushed rock lead to a lengthy balance of juicy red fruit and clove. With small amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Saint-Macaire and Cabernet Franc, it shows a deft hand at blending, with lasting notes of black pepper and nuanced oak. Editors Choice. Virginie BooneBuy Now on Vivino
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Best Cabernet Sauvignon $10
Freshly aerated Château Recougne Bordeaux Supérieur
Moving into the low-mid price range, things get interesting, and you can do a lot of searching to try and find the best Cabernet Sauvignon for your money.
For us, we have to go with the Château Recougne Bordeaux Supérieur, coming in at $14/£12.
Château Recougne is a French vineyard based in Bordeaux with a deep cultural history going back as far as the 16th Century, where it was honored even by royal families!
We discovered this wine during a small wine tasting event, and we were frankly impressed with the versatility and flavor considering the relatively low price. Notes of cherry and cedar are coupled with a refinedearthiness which balances wonderfully against the fruit and spice notes to give a wine which seems more refined than the cost may indicate.
Although we enjoyed it at a tasting event we also snagged a few bottles to serve up alongside dinner. Our best pairing so far? Lamb ragu!
Titus Family Estate 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Grapes for this delicious wine are grown on a family-owned 40-acre vineyard just north of St. Helena. It is garnet colored in the glass with aromas of black cherry and blueberry. In the mouth it has flavors of dark fruits, dark chocolate and mocha with a firm tannic structure. Theres also a touch of vanilla in the fruit filled finish. Drink now or throughout the next 15 years or so.
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Best Cabernet Sauvignon < $10 / < 10
On the low price range, you always have to be careful when looking for wine. While this varies from country to country, the tax laws levied against alcohol typically mean that on the lower end of the price spectrum youre paying significantly more in taxes than youre actually paying for the wine.
That being said, lower price doesnt have to mean bad quality, and it isnt reasonable to expect everyone to be able to routinely be spending a large amount on a bottle. With that in mind, were happy to present our candidate for the best cabernet sauvignon in this price rangeChâteau Guiot 2018 Costières de Nîmes!
Like many Cabernet Sauvignon, Costières de Nîmes exhibits the tell-tale purple color, and herbaceous aromas across the nose which lead into stronger fruit flavors of forest fruits. As we sail into the finish, youll find it refreshingly smooth for a cab-sauv, resulting in an easy drinking red.
Definitely a great go-to if youre looking for something on the lower price range to pair with a meal, or exploring this wine for the first time and looking for the best cheap Cabernet Sauvignon.
What To Look For In The Best Winter Wines
Winter wines should make you feel cozy, comforted and warm, advises Brianne Cohen, a Los Angeles-based certified sommelier and wine educator. So what does that mean in the glass? Dont be fooled by the color. The somms we spoke to agree that you can feel free to break the white after Labor Day rule. Any color can feel comfy as a winter wine as long as it checks these boxes:
- It offers some acidity: This element makes for a food-friendly wine that can sit with all kinds of rich and flavorful foods that make regular appearances on winter tables, Cohen says.
- It’s fuller in body: Just like liquid dairy is available in a range from skim to whole milk to cream, wines can be categorized into light, medium or full in body. The fat in the dairy contributes to how viscous it feels on your tongue, as does the alcohol level in the wine. Light-bodied wines are under 12.5 percent alcohol by volume , medium-bodied wines contain between 12.5 and 13.5 percent ABV and full-bodied wines have more than 13.5 percent ABV.
Think about what you eat when its cold outside or what vegetables are in seasonhearty root vegetables, stews, comfort food. So you need wine that can stand up to those things, says Kara Flaherty, a certified sommelier and the beverage and retail director for Take Root Hospitality in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Where Does The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Come From
I believe the best cabernet sauvignon comes from Paso Robles because of its proximity to the ocean, which provides the best soils for growing dark, rich balanced cabs. Paso Robles also has perfect weather for cabernets, because of the extreme diurnal temperature swings. This means our daytime temperature is in the 90s and the nights cool down to 50 degrees. These temperature swings are vital in making great cabs it allows the plants to shut down at night resulting in great balanced wines with delicious acidity.
Mazzei Philip Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Chianti Classico’s ancient Tuscan wine-producing region meets the newly discovered Maremma area in this elegant, full-bodied red. The old and the new are utilized to make a balanced wine that will please any palate.
This cab has a dark purple color with intriguing black cherry aromas. It is also filled with balsamic herbs and coffee notes that are intertwined alongside the toasted oak flavors.
Black fruit dominates this flavor profile with some dried flowers, chocolate, and vanilla in an exotic tasting experience just waiting for exploration from start to finish. This complex and full-bodied bottle leaves a velvety smooth finish.
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Cabernet sauvignon is the worlds most widely planted grape, grown in almost every wine producing region.
Not an ancient grape, it is believed to be a cross between cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc that was created somewhere in the 17th century. It became a key component blended with other grapes, firstly and most famously in Bordeaux where it is routinely partnered with various combinations of merlot and cabernet franc.
But now, it stands tall as a solo act. Cabernet sauvignon is a relatively easy grape to grow and tends to do best in warmer regions, which bring out its rich, dark, generous, brambly fruit flavours, with robust tannins. Other flavours to look for are green vegetal and herbal notes, mint, aniseed, eucalyptus and perhaps some liquorice and peppery notes, even hints of dark chocolate.
As a full bodied, robust red, which is best after some ageing in the barrel and bottle, cabernet sauvignon is a food wine rather than an aperitif or party guzzler.
Its most at home with strong flavoured meat dishes: think big steaks, game, venison, roast lamb and casseroles as well as complex vegetable dishes, such as tagines and vegetable pasta bakes. It is also a perfect wine for hard and blue cheeses more strong flavours again.
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Best Winter Wine For Charcuterie: 2021 Quentin Harel Les Grandes Terres
A young winemaker recently took over his French family estate where they make soulful fresh aromatic wines from his organic vineyards, explains Ashlee Aubin, owner of Pompette, a wine bar and all-day cafe in Chicago. Since this juicy Beaujolais made with gamay grapes has soft tannins, elevated acidity and red currant aromas, Aubin deems it perfect for a grazing table filled with Alpine cheese, saucisson, grilled shrimp and olives.
2021 2021 Beaujolais-Villages Les Grandes Terres
2021 2021 Beaujolais-Villages Les Grandes Terres
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Bonterra Organically Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Lavish and luscious, this red wine is full of life. Tasting notes include cherry, currant, and raspberry with hints of toasted oak on the nose. It is medium-bodied and has good structure and balance, with a satisfying and lingering finish.
Bonterra has been committed to quality wines for more than 20 years, and they have done so without using pesticides. As early as 1987, Bonterra was already an organic winemaker. This 2018 cab is an inspired feat after being one of the originators in this field since then!
Hollick Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 145% 75cl
Best: Overall
Rating: 10/10
Made by a boutique winery from vines up to 40 years old from vineyards in the Coonawarra and Wrattonbully region of South Australia, this is benchmark Australian cabernet. Like most cabernet sauvignon wines from the region, this is a big, bold, smooth mouthful, with great varietal character, some notes of green vegetables and intense black fruit flavours, and a long finish. Drinkable now, but plenty of ageing potential and suitable for a wide variety of foods, particularly autumn casseroles.
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What Are The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Regions
Cabernet Sauvignon wine is a staple in many households across the country and around the world. In fact, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are the most commonly grown varietal in many wine regions around the world. Why is Cabernet sauvignon wine so popular? It is an extremely versatile wine and the grape it is made from can also be used in blends. Additionally, the grape has a thick skin and hardy vines, which is beneficial to growers in all regions.
Napa 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: Napa Valley, California, USAVarietal: 100% Cabernet SauvignonPrice: $35.99ABV: 14.5%
At the junction of Oakville Cross Road and Highway 29 in Napa Valley stands a landmark historical Victorian home and the iconic Oakville Grocery, founded in 1881, the oldest continuously operating grocery store in California. The general store served the visionary pioneers who first planted grapes in the valley and remains today a celebrated gathering place for the Napa Valley crowd. Known as 1881 Napa, the adjacent founders home today honors the rich legacy, history, and heritage of this world-famous wine region. 1881 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is derived from prestigious vineyards throughout Napa Valley, creating a wine that celebrates the regions diversity and complexity.The wine shows a deep ruby color with a touch of purple on the rim. It opens up with a bouquet of ripe black fruit with mocha and toasted oak aromas. The mouth is well balanced with ripe fruit and licorice flavors all wrapped in medium tannins adding to the supple finish. It is aged in American oak.
> For more information, visit the 1881 Napa official website.
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