Explore the great potential of cabernet sauvignon with these 17 great examples

Australian wines made entirely from cabernet sauvignon are deservingly popular – with winemakers and vignerons able to extract all kinds of qualities from its complex flavour profile. But this well-known variety is also frequently used for blending. In fact, when James Busby – a wine pioneer – imported the grape to Australia in 1832, it was almost exclusively used for blending. 

And this is done for many reasons – leveraging the desired qualities of cabernet sauvignon to uplift the overall quality of a wine. For one, this variety is known for its firm tannins and strong structure. Blending with grapes like merlot, for example, which has softer tannins and more fruit, can help create a more balanced wine (whether cabernet is the more dominant force in the bottle or not).

To help you explore the great potential of cabernet sauvignon, we have curated this list of straight-up cab savs as well as a few blends – each tasted and recommended by the Halliday Tasting Team. Read on to find their scores and links to buy their bottles, plus members can also click through to find more detailed tasting notes and reviews. 

Shop the wines: Ansted & Osicka | Barristers Block | Bekkers | Blue Pyrenees Estate | Chateau Tanunda | Clarendon Hills | Grounded Cru | Knappstein | Mordrelle | Parker Estate | Peter Lehmann | Rymil | Snake + Herring | Tapanappa Estate | Whistling Eagle