What can we say about Cabernet Sauvignon? We seem to be falling in love all over again here at PWS headquarters. it holds a place of enduring prestige in Australian wine that stretched right back to our formative years as a wine-producing country. Whether shaped by maritime breezes, ancient soils, or high-altitude sunlight, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon continues to define itself as both a cornerstone of the country’s fine wine offering and a canvas for regional distinction.

Often associated with power and longevity, Australian Cabernet also demonstrates remarkable nuance and stylistic range, from restrained, claret-like elegance to rich, full-bodied depth of its warmer reaches. Australia’s versatility with Cabernet offers both structure and sophistication while highlighting a broad spectrum of regional expressions.  

From Coonawarra, and its distinctive terra rossa soils and surprisingly cool climate, you could easily argue its Australia’s most famous Cabernet-producing region. Meanwhile, Margaret River in Western Australia has fast been on Coonawarra’s heels where Cabernet takes on a broader, more plush character. Often blended with Merlot or other Bordeaux varieties, Margaret River Cabernets are deeply aromatic and beautifully balanced with an underlying power and freshness that is beguiling to say the least.

While the Clare Valley, may not be a goto for the varietals and often overlooked in favor of its Rieslings, their Cabernets nonetheless offer up plenty of personality, vibrancy and a touch of regional herbaceousness. On the cooler end of the spectrum, the Yarra Valley produces more restrained, medium-bodied styles of Cabernet that often echo a modern claret in feel—bright, red-fruited, and savory, with fine tannins and a lightness of touch that rewards early drinking as well as cellaring.

GOLD METAL - Margaret River Wine Show 2023
TOP GOILD MEDAL - National Wine Show 2024
BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON IN SHOW - National Wine Show 2024
TOP GOLD MEDAL - Perth Wine Show 2024
TOP GOLD MEDAL - Margaret River Wine Show 2024
BEST RED WINE IN SHOW - Margaret River Wine Show 2024
WINE OF SHOW - Margaret River Wine Show 2024

SPECIAL VALUE - It has all the regional flavours one could wish for – the sweet mulberries, cassis, the bay leaves, freshly rolled tobacco, choc-mint and nori. But wait, there’s more. It’s full bodied, rich and ripe, structured and detailed in equal measure with plentiful if firm tannins. This is going to last quite some distance but it offers a compelling argument to have a glass or two now, such is its vibrancy and appeal. JANE FAULKNER, Halliday Wine Companion

Deep, intense and richly flavoured, this is no tutti-frutti merlot. The fruit comes encased in earthy, almost peaty flavours with baking spices and fresh herbs. Full bodied with no shortage of oak and tannins – somewhat drying on the finish. But all things considered, this is very good and a more serious proposition than many. JANE FAULKNER, Halliday Wine Companion

Red and black fruits, cedar, some dried flowers and mint, blonde tobacco. It’s medium-bodied with an understated claret-like charm, and don’t mind me, but there’s a distinct flavour of honey glazed ham in the mix, along with tobacco and dried herbs. The tannin offers a light grainy grip, and the finish is all red fruit and olives in brine. Nice. (93) GARY WALSH, The Wine Front 

Medium-deep red-purple with a briary, tomato-bush and angelica bouquet, the palate medium-full bodied and lively, intense, fine and focused, with bright and attractive cabernet cassis/raspberry fruit backed by fine, persuasive yet supple tannins. Fine, elegant cabernet, worth cellar space. (93) HUON HOOKE, The Real Review

21 days on skins and matured for 16 months in new and seasoned French oak hogsheads and barriques. The colour is a deeply pigmented magenta. The purity of just-ripe, immaculate blackberries, currants and plums is astounding. It’s almost stark in its pureness of fruit and restraint of oak additions. Elongated tannins and lingering acidity with Nyon olive brine, nutmeg and the slightest touch of fresh picked bay leaf. Confident and completely unsullied. Stunning now and will only improve with age. This is a testament to scintillating fruit and the winemaker’s appreciation of it. (96) SHANTEH WALE, Halliday Wine Companion

I don’t want to say this too loudly but – it’s pretty good/remarkable that this wine is still $45. Give me this over any of the Penfolds reds, for instance, any day.

This is a super release. Tannic and bold but elegant and long. That’s it, we’re done, just buy a case. It tastes of blackcurrant, bay leaves, toast and redcurrant, with dusty cedar-flecked tannin reaching through. This tannin has an intent to it; a determination. Indeed the same could be said of the wine as a whole. It’s a beauty. (95) CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

Very deep, saturated purple colour with a powerful bouquet of fully ripe black fruits with oak clearly evident. Hints of black pepper and black tea, the palate medium-full bodied with a nicely balanced sheen of tannins supplying structure, and the finish rolls on quite long. A plush cabernet to either drink young or cellar. The style seems riper and richer than typical for this label. HUON HOOKE, The Real Review

A classy Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon museum offering, made by Peter Gambetta, from the strong 2015 vintage. There's a solid pedigree of longevity with The Menzies and this release is beginning to show that potential. Brightly coloured with pure blackberry, blood plum and blackcurrant fruits, there's still some primary exuberance to the fruit profile; it seems youthful. There's hints of mixed spice, a light shading of tobacco and dark chocolatey things and a passing glance of mint. The tannins are compact and powdery and there is a long, elegant finish that shows excellent sustain and harmony. (96) DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion

This has attractive, earthy aromas with violets, purple olives and blueberries. Some spiced pastry, leaves and herbs. The palate has impressive, fleshy texture with tannins that are softening, and there’s impressive drive of red-plum flavor. Complex yet pure fruit, delivered long and fresh. Drink or hold. JAMES SUCKLING

Deepish colour with a tinge of purple in the meniscus. The bouquet is crushed-leafy, aromatic and has a note of oyster-shell. Some hints of machine-oil. It tastes like a just-ripe, cool-grown style. The wine is medium to full-bodied and the tannins are firm and slightly chewy, with a slight mid-palate dip. Very good flavour and potential. A very fine cabernet. HUON HOOKE, The Real Review

Black fruits, bay leaf and tobacco, an overlay of creamy nougat oak, and some liquorice and dried mint. It’s fleshy and smooth, a flood of dark fruit, black olive and toasty flavours, tannin perhaps a little gritty and oaky dry on the finish, but all up, a stylish example of Coonawarra richness and almost medium-bodied appeal. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

GOLD MEDAL - 2020 Clare Wine Show

Beautiful thick ferrous tannin weaved through black fruit, plum, pencil and dried roses, just a flicker of mint and dried herb in the background, along with some coffee and black olive. It's ripe in fruit, though essentially savoury, it's fresh, beautifully balanced, but thick and sinewy. The finish is long and packed with tannin. Great wine. (96) GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

A touch shy in the beginning, it starts to reveal aromas of red berries, black plums and choc-mint. There's a lovely vibrancy and clarity to the fruit which comes to life on the palate. It's very youthful and will gain layers and complexity in the cellar. GABRIELLE POY, The Real Review 

From one of the few cabernet vineyards in the Upper Yarra; planted at 240m elevation in Wandin East. Matured in French barriques (30% new) for 15 months. A medium crimson purple. Perfectly ripened cabernet fruit exhibiting aromas of dark cherry, violets, a little bramble and some complexing bell pepper. Medium bodied and compact, the fruit has swallowed up the oak and while it's a touch firm once it fleshes out a little (and it will) this should provide considerable pleasure for a decade or so. (95) PHILIP RICH, Halliday Wine Companion

Vivid purple-red colour, not that deep but very bright. Attractive red berry aromas, including blueberry, the bouquet fruit driven. There are cassis and red berry flavours galore, the palate is medium-full bodied, poised and elegant, with seamless flow and effortless charm. Tannins are fine grained yet persistent, supplying excellent structure. A lovely wine and very much in Yarra Valley style. (93) HUON HOOKE, The Real Review