96 Points - James Suckling. A fascinating new release from the Catena Institute’s historical vineyard project, The Birth of Cabernet is more than just a name — it’s a tribute to the earliest Cabernet vines planted in Mendoza in the early 20th century. Drawn from old vines in Agrelo, this 2021 is a snapshot of place and time: cool nights, low yields, and a long growing season delivering purity, poise and quiet power. Vivino Rating: 4.4 (May 2025) Wine Press Ratings 96 Points - James Suckling (202

Chateau Laroze Labatisse is a relatively modern estate that builds on ancient winemaking roots. The passion project of Gérard Bougès, it started life in 1983 when Gérard decided to develop some family-owned land in Fournas, in the town of Saint Sauveur, just inland from the prized commune of Pauillac. Seeing the land's potential for producing top-flight wines, he began assembling small, high-quality plots and released his first vintage in 1988. Ever the perfectionist, as the vines grew older and

92 Points - James Suckling. Bacco Estate’s flagship red from Paarl is a Bordeaux-style blend with a touch of Italian charm from Sangiovese. Concentrated and layered, it balances structure with elegance, showing the estate’s quality and character at its finest. Taste A dark, plush core of black plum, cassis and mulberry opens with hints of graphite and gently integrated oak. On the palate the fruit is rich and layered, with fine tannins and juicy acidity giving structure and momentum. Notes of ch

91 Points - James Suckling. From the beautiful Tuscan-style producer Bacco Estate, this flagship Paarl red blends Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon with richness, elegance and precision. Concentrated and layered, it balances power with finesse — a top-tier wine showing the estate at its very best. Blend 82% SANGIOVESE, 18% CABERNET SAUVIGNON Taste Dark plum, black cherry and cassis dominate, with hints of graphite, cedar and subtle spice adding complexity. The palate is structured yet polished,

Château Chantelune 2007 sits on the highest hill in Margaux and is a truly distinctive, small-production estate, producing just 400 cases. Now fully mature and drinking beautifully, the wine shows rounded tannins and a warm, polished Margaux character. Elegant Merlot brings balance to the Cabernet, giving poise, softness and length. A genuine jewel in The Perfect Cellar collection. About the Producer This unique chateau and parcel of vines have all of the qualities necessary to produce fine wine

The Clonal Selection Cabernet Sauvignon from Riversdale Vineyard exemplifies Larry Cherubino’s commitment to showcasing the unique terroir of Frankland River. Sourced from heritage clones 377 and 191, this wine reflects the region’s continental climate and the meticulous care taken in its production. With extended maturation in seasoned French oak, it offers a balance of concentration, structure, and elegance, making it a standout example of Western Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. Taste Deep garn

Domaine de Margüi can trace its roots back to Roman times through ruins and amphorae discovered in 2002. In 2017, the Domaine was fully renovated and became part of the Skywalker Vineyards collection. The Bastide de Margui is the Domaine's Grand Vin, and the grapes are rigorously de-budded, hand-picked, and sorted to produce a wine of exceptional quality. Fruity aromas of nectarine, peach, mango and wild strawberry are complemented by subtle oriental spices. On the palate, ripe fruits combine wi

95 Points - Raffaele Vecchione. Solengo was the brainchild of the legendary winemaker and father of Super Tuscan wines, Giacomo Tachis. The first vintage was 1995 and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Sangiovese. The wines are aged in French barriques for twelve months and are blended just before the bottling. A long period in bottle follows before the finished Solengo is released. Solengo, by the way, means solitary wild boar in Tuscan, and describes perfectly the regal, p

95 Points - Cameron Douglas. Esk Valley River Gravel is a rich, complex, and elegant blend from Hawke’s Bay that marries expressive dark fruit with refined oak and seamless structure. Crafted by a trailblazing winery renowned for its artisanal methods and focus on unique terroir, this wine is recognised for excellence by leading critics and offers impressive ageing potential for any serious wine collection. Wine Press Ratings 95 Points - Cameron Douglas, MS (2021 Vintage) "Opaque appearance wit

If you like your Australian red wine to combine power with finesse, then the Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz is the perfect wine for you. Produced on the famed terra rossa soils, arguably Australia’s greatest, in the warm Wrattonbully region, it gets its name from the remains of a 37-million-year-old whale that were found here. Made from old, low-yielding vines, the quantity of fruit produced here is tiny, but the quality is exceptional. Once picked the grapes were destemmed – no ex

92 Points - Jane Anson. Château Bouscaut, a leading estate in Pessac-Léognan, delivers precision and richness in the 2015 vintage. Both approachable and age-worthy, this wine reflects the estate’s balance of ripe fruit, freshness and terroir expression. Taste Deep ruby, the nose offers blackcurrant, cherry, graphite and subtle spice. The palate is structured yet supple, with layers of dark fruit, chocolate and hints of tobacco, framed by fine, polished tannins. Elegant, long and expressive, show

95 Points - Cameron Douglas, MS. Assembled from some of California’s most expressive vineyards, this bold red blend brings together Zinfandel-led richness with Cabernet Sauvignon structure and Syrah spice. A modern, full-throttle style of winemaking, it’s built for generosity, texture and immediate impact. Taste Deep, inky colour with ripe aromas of blackberry, black cherry and plum, layered with vanilla, cocoa and sweet baking spice. The palate is plush and full-bodied, delivering dense dark fr

98 Points - Decanter. Top-tier Napa Cabernet from the legendary To Kalon vineyard, showing both power and precision. Ripe dark fruit is balanced by fine-grained tannins, subtle oak and a sense of place that speaks of Oakville’s unique soils and climate. Sustainable vineyard practices support the quality, ensuring fruit is handled with care from vine to bottle. Taste Blackcurrant, blackberry and cassis combine with hints of graphite, cedar and dark chocolate. Layers of spice, tobacco and subtle e

94 Points - James Suckling. Classic Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, built on structure and depth rather than sheer weight. Sourced largely from the famed To Kalon vineyard, this is a benchmark Napa style, combining ripe, concentrated fruit with freshness, fine tannins and polished oak. There’s a clear sense of place here, with the warmth of California balanced by restraint and detail. Sustainable vineyard management underpins the quality, with careful handling from vine to cellar.  Taste Blackcurra

This beautiful rosé from Château Margüi is easily among the finest you’ll taste, capturing Provence at its best, a clear step up from Whispering Angel. The estate’s flagship cuvée opens with fresh pomelo and peach, leading to a finely balanced palate with lively acidity and a lovely texture, finishing long, rounded and subtly zesty with a touch of tropical lift, all from a vineyard owned by George Lucas. Taste Sandy pink, with white gold rim, on the nose fresh pomelo mingling with peach in harmo

This beautiful rosé from Château Margüi is easily among the finest you’ll taste, capturing Provence at its best, a clear step up from Whispering Angel! The estate’s flagship cuvée opens with fresh pomelo and peach, leading to a finely balanced palate with lively acidity and a lovely texture, finishing long, rounded and subtly zesty with a touch of tropical lift, all from a vineyard owned by George Lucas. Taste Sandy pink, with white gold rim, on the nose fresh pomelo mingling with peach in harmo

90 Points - Gilbert et Gaillard. Standing at an impressive altitude of 1,800 meters, the highest in the Northern Hemisphere, IXSIR Winery crafts exceptional wines, including their Altitudes Rouge, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Caladoc and Tempranillo. Displaying notes of red fruits, currants and raspberries, with a touch of spice. It is a very elegant and pleasant wine with a good standing and an overtone of softness. IXSIR's commitment to sustainable agriculture is reflected in their vi

Domaine de Margüi can trace its roots back to Roman time through ruins and amphorae discovered in 2002. In 2017, the Domaine was fully renovated and became part of the Skywalker Vineyards collection. The Bastide de Margui is the Domaine's Grand Vin, and the grapes are rigorously de-budded, hand-picked, and sorted to produce a wine of exceptional quality. Aged for 20 months in new French oak barrels, on the nose, there is an abundance of black fruits with notes of plums, blackcurrants, hints of v

Following the estate’s renaissance over the past decade, Chateau Palais Cardinal continues its upward trajectory with a superb recent vintage in Saint-Émilion. Under the guidance of Nicolas Ballande, investment in modern cellar technology, organic vineyard practices and meticulous site management has transformed quality, with certifications including HVE 3 and Terra Vitis. The result is a wine that comfortably rivals leading Grand Crus — combining pedigree, precision and value — and reinforcing

Chateau Laroze Labatisse is a relatively modern estate that builds on ancient winemaking roots. The passion project of Gérard Bougès, it started life in 1983 when Gérard decided to develop some family-owned land in Fournas, in the town of Saint Sauveur, just inland from the prized commune of Pauillac. Seeing the land's potential for producing top-flight wines, he began assembling small, high-quality plots and released his first vintage in 1988. Ever the perfectionist, as the vines grew older and