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All the winners from the Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2023
Following our recent judging, we are able to reveal the full list of medal-winning wines from this year’s Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters, featuring outstanding wines from California to Turkey and South Australia.
Of all the globally planted varieties of the world, Cabernet Sauvignon is the most reliable source of fine wine. Classed as the King of Grapes, it’s a variety that is able to yield outstanding results in a broad range of places. As long as there’s enough heat, and drainage – Cabernet likes dry gravelly soils – this grape can be the basis of wines that are wonderfully concentrated and structured, and, as a result, age-worthy.
The sources of such greatness are varied, and new ones are emerging each decade, but it is the wines from the US, Italy, Australia, and Chile in particular that are challenging Cabernet’s native region of Bordeaux for excellence. Indeed, all these nations have their ‘first growth’ equivalents, which are increasingly being sold alongside great Bordeaux through the French distribution system La Place.
With this in mind, expectations were high for the Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters, with the judges hoping to find great wines, while being harsh on anything that wasn’t good. The top wines had Cabernet’s hallmark blackcurrant fruit, often mingling with some red berry flavours too, and dense, mouth-coating fine ripe tannins, with additional characters coming from oak and, in some cases, other grapes – Cabernet likes to be combined with a mix of varieties.
This year, weaker expressions sometimes had low-level faults, from volatile acidity to reduction, or baked, overripe fruit, and the opposite too, with green capsicum-like characters coming to the fore – always a risk with pyrazineprone Cabernet. But the disappointments were rare. The results were remarkable, with 26 Gold medals and 11 Masters awarded.
Such was the quality of the samples, the judges left the competition filled with enthusiasm. As one of them, Jonathan Pedley MW, commented after the tasting: “The prospects of a day in the clutches of Cabernet Sauvignon can be daunting, but today turned into a joyous demonstration of why this grape has such an august reputation.”
As for the origins of such first-rate wines, the US, Australia, and Chile proved to be the main winners, yielding exciting and different expressions of Cabernet, often in blends. Over the following pages we have picked just a few highlights from the competition, taking in all these nations. And if you are wondering about Bordeaux, that is a region we look at in detail in a standalone competition, although the area’s Cabernets are, of course, welcome to also enter the Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters – and we hope to see some in 2024.
The 2023 Winners
Unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Viña Casa Solís | La Piqueta | Central Valley | Chile | 2022 | Silver |
Viña Casa Solís | Cabernet Sauvignon | Central Valley | Chile | 2022 | Silver |
Viña Casa Solís | Pico Andino | Central Valley | Chile | 2022 | Bronze |
Distell | Fleur du Cap Essence du Cap | Western Cape | South Africa | 2021 | Bronze |
Félix Solís Avantis | Viña Albali Cabernet Sauvignon | Castilla-La Mancha | Spain | 2022 | Bronze |
SC Cramele Recas | Sanziana Cabernet Sauvignon | Banat | Romania | 2021 | Bronze |
La Prensa | Cabernet Sauvignon | Spain | Spain | 2022 | Bronze |
£15-£20 | |||||
Vina Estampa | Estampa Libre SSA | Central Valley | Chile | 2022 | Bronze |
£20-£30 | |||||
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | One Giant Leap | Clare Valley | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Bodegas Bianchi | Famiglia Bianchi | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
£30-£50 | |||||
Langmeil Winery | Kernel Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2020 | Silver |
Oaked 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
De Bortoli Wines | Winemakers Selection | South Australia | Australia | 2022 | Gold |
De Bortoli Wines | Woodfired | Heathcote | Australia | 2020 | Silver |
Distell | Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon | Western Cape | South Africa | 2020 | Bronze |
£10-£15 | |||||
Château Tanunda | Grand Barossa | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2021 | Gold |
Paragon Wine Estates | Krondorf Founders View Barossa | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2021 | Gold |
Viña Doña Paula | Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Viña Sur Andino | Frida Kahlo | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
Viña Siegel | Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
Viña Sur Andino | Cabernario No. 5 | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
Brown Brothers | Origins Series Cabernet Sauvignon | Victoria | Australia | 2020 | Silver |
Gatt | High Eden Cabernet Sauvignon | High Eden | Australia | 2018 | Silver |
Cono Sur | Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver |
De Bortoli Wines | Deen Vat 9 | Heathcote/Yarra Valley | Australia | 2017 | Silver |
Three Thieves Wines | Three Thieves Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2020 | Silver |
Casa Silva | Gran Terroir De Los Andes | Viñedo de los Lingues, Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2022 | Silver |
Aresti | Espíritu de Chile Explorador | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
MontGras | De Vine Cabernet Sauvignon | Central Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Paragon Wine Estates | Riddoch Coonawarra Elgin’s Crossing | Coonawarra | Australia | 2020 | Bronze |
Viña Morandé | Selección de Viñedos Gran Reserva | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | Limestone Coast/Clare Valley | Australia | 2021 | Bronze |
Distell | Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Castle of Goodhope | Western Cape | South Africa | 2021 | Bronze |
Viña Santa Carolina | Carolina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Maule Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Ménage à Trois Wines | Decadence Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2020 | Bronze |
Paragon Wine Estates | Krondorf Barossa | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2021 | Bronze |
Viña Siegel | Handpicked Reserva | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Nederburg Wines | Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon | Western Cape | South Africa | 2020 | Bronze |
Viña Santa Carolina | Carolina Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Maule Valley | Chile | 2020 | Bronze |
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
£15-£20 | |||||
Kenwood Vineyards | Six Ridges Cabernet Sauvignon | Alexander Valley | USA | 2019 | Master |
Aresti | Family Collection | Curicó Valley | Chile | 2019 | Gold |
Langmeil Winery | Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2020 | Gold |
Bodegas Y Viñedos Pascual Toso | Pascual Toso Selected Vines Cabernet Sauvignon | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Terrazas de los Andes | Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Viña San Pedro Tarapaca | 1865 Selected Vineyards | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
Principi di Butera | Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia DOC | Tuscany | Italy | 2020 | Silver |
Joel Gott Wines | 815 Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2019 | Silver |
Paragon Wine Estates | Coonawarra The Advocate | Coonawarra | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Viña Siegel | Siegel Single Vineyard | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver |
Kilikanoon | Killerman’s Run | Clare Valley | Australia | 2019 | Silver |
Langmeil Winery | Wild Child | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2021 | Bronze |
Viña Valdivieso | Valdivieso Single Vineyard | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Bronze |
Cannonball | Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2020 | Bronze |
Viña Carmen | Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Viña Valdivieso | Valley Selection Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2020 | Bronze |
£20-£30 | |||||
Château Tanunda | The Chateau Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2021 | Master |
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Reserve Parcel Cabernet Sauvignon | Limestone Coast/Clare Valley | Australia | 2021 | Gold |
Nederburg Wines | Private Bin Two Centuries | Western Cape | South Africa | 2019 | Gold |
Napa Cellars | Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2019 | Gold |
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon | Clare Valley/Coonawarra | Australia | 2021 | Gold |
Paragon Wine Estates | Riddoch Coonawarra The Pastoralist | Maipo Valley | Australia | 2021 | Gold |
Santa Rita | Floresta | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
De Bortoli Wines | Wines Melba Reserve | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Bodegas Y Viñedos Pascual Toso | Pascual Alta | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Bodegas Y Viñedos Pascual Toso | Toso Estate | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Paragon Wine Estates | Riddoch Coonawarra The Pastoralist | Coonawarra | Australia | 2019 | Bronze |
Finca Albret | Albret La Viña de mi Madre | Navarra | Spain | 2018 | Bronze |
MontGras | Antu Cabernet sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
£30-£50 | |||||
Langmeil Winery | Jackaman’s Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2020 | Master |
Kenwood Vineyards | Jack London Vineyard Dry Farmed | California | USA | 2019 | Master |
Brown Brothers | Patricia Cabernet Sauvignon | Victoria | Australia | 2018 | Gold |
Chateau Ste. Michelle | Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | Washington | United States | 2019 | Gold |
Salentein | Primus | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2018 | Silver |
St Hugo | Single Vineyard Coonawarra Flint | Coonawarra | Australia | 2018 | Silver |
Church Road | 1 Cabernet Sauvignon | Hawke’s Bay | New Zealand | 2020 | Silver |
De Bortoli Wines | Melba Amphora | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Château Tanunda | 50 Year Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2020 | Silver |
St Hugo | Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra | Australia | 2019 | Silver |
£50-£70 | |||||
Levrier Wines by Jo Irvine | Anubis Cabernet Sauvignon | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2018 | Gold |
Bodegas Bianchi | Bianchi Particular | San Rafael | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Terrazas de los Andes | Grand Cabernet Sauvignon | Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Cono Sur | Silencio Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2018 | Silver |
£70-£100 | |||||
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon | Clare Valley | Australia | 2016 | Master |
De Bortoli Wines | Melba Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2018 | Gold |
Santa Rita | Casa Real | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2020 | Gold |
Hoosegg | Double Happy Cabernet Sauvignon | Orange | Australia | 2019 | Silver |
Oaked Blend
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Kenwood Vineyards | Discoveries Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2019 | Silver |
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards | Dancing Flame | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Viña San Pedro Tarapaca | 9 Lives Reserve | Central Valley | Chile | 2022 | Bronze |
Concha y Toro | Casillero del Diablo | Central Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards | LFE Reserva | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
£10-£15 | |||||
Barel Vineyards | Reserve | Thrace/Marmara | Turkey | 2020 | Master |
Santa Rita | Medalla Real Gold Medal | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Gold |
Robert Mondavi Private Selection | Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2021 | Silver |
Concha y Toro | Casillero del Diablo Reserva Especial | Maule Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
Nederburg Wines | Winemasters Cabernet Sauvignon | Western Cape | South Africa | 2021 | Silver |
Ménage à Trois Wines | Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2020 | Silver |
Concha y Toro | Casillero del Diablo Reserva Privada | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver |
Bieler Family Wines | Charles & Charles Bolt Cabernet Sauvignon | Columbia Valley | USA | 2020 | Silver |
Santa Rita | Medalla Real Gran Reserva | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Berton Vineyards | Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra | Australia | 2019 | Bronze |
Robert Mondavi Private Selection | Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2021 | Bronze |
Viña San Pedro Tarapaca | 061 | Chile | Chile | 2022 | Bronze |
£15-£20 | |||||
Maquis | Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2020 | Master |
Langmeil Winery | Legendary Cabernet Shiraz | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2020 | Gold |
Calcu Vineyards | Tiny Blocks Cabernet Sauvignon | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2020 | Gold |
Viña Sur Andino | Cabernario N° 8 | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Gold |
VIK | A Cabernet Sauvignon | Cachapoal Valley | Chile | 2019 | Gold |
Viña Morandé | Vitis Única | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
VIK | A Cabernet Sauvignon | Cachapoal Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
Sutil Wines | Sutil Limited Release | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2010 | Silver |
SeaGlass Wine Company | SeaGlass Cabernet Sauvignon | Central Coast | USA | 2021 | Silver |
Ventisquero Wine Estates | Ramirana Gran Reserva | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
Vistamar | Vistamar Gran Reserva | Cachapoal Andes Valley | Chile | 2020 | Bronze |
Vina Estampa | Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvgnon | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2020 | Bronze |
Concha y Toro | Marques de Casa Concha | Central Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Ventisquero Wine Estates | Chilano Premium Cabernet Sauvignon | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
Vina Estampa | Estampa Reserva | Colchagua | Chile | 2020 | Bronze |
£20-£30 | |||||
MontGras | Intriga by MontGras | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
Vina Estampa | Estampa Gold | Marchigüe | Chile | 2018 | Silver |
Cono Sur | 20 Barrels Limited Edition | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver |
Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine | Lui Cabernet Veneto IGT | Veneto | Italy | 2018 | Silver |
DAOU Estate | Cabernet Sauvignon | Paso Robles | USA | 2021 | Silver |
The Prisoner Wine Company | Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2021 | Silver |
Tokara | Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon | Stellenbosch | South Africa | 2020 | Silver |
Viña Siegel | Unique Selection | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2018 | Silver |
Kenwood Vineyards | Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | Sonoma Mountain | USA | 2018 | Bronze |
Carmel Road Winery | Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2020 | Bronze |
£30-£50 | |||||
Viña Los Boldos | Château Los Boldos, Grand Clos | Cachapoal Valley | Chile | 2019 | Gold |
Conti di San Bonifacio | Docet IGT Toscana | Tuscany | Italy | 2016 | Bronze |
£50-£70 | |||||
Trefethen Family Vineyards | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2020 | Gold |
Jordan Winery | Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon | Alexander valley | USA | 2019 | Silver |
DAOU Estate | DAOU Reserve | Paso Robles | USA | 2020 | Silver |
£70-£100 | |||||
Viña Carmen | Carmen Gold | Maipo Valley | Chile | 2020 | Master |
Hoosegg | Double Happy | Orange | Australia | 2018 | Gold |
Freemark Abbey | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | USA | 2019 | Gold |
Fazeli Cellars | Cabernet Sauvignon | California | USA | 2018 | Silver |
£100+ | |||||
Mt Brave | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | USA | 2019 | Master |
About the competition
With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 5 April at COMO Halkin, London, employing experienced judges.
The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Cabernet Sauvignon Master.
This report features the medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura.