ON THE GRAPEVINE

In honour of International Cabernet Sauvignon Day (August 30) we’ve picked some showy wines to highlight this prized grape

Yalumba Y Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, South Australia, (£9, Just Cases) Beautifully ripe and packed with vibrant fruit, this is a powerhouse of blackberries, dark cherries, dried herbs and hint of mint on the long finish. There’s great depth and bags of fruity charm.

No1 Vina Valdivieso Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2017, Maipo Valley, Chile (£9.99, Waitrose) A perfect parcel of exuberant fruit united by a satin ribbon of cassis and sumptuous spiced oak, with a generous, juicy finish and subtle savoury note.

Vinalba Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Mendoza, Argentina

(£10, Tesco) Awarded a Silver medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 for its “lovely nose of cedar, green pepper, coffee beans, vanilla and intense black fruit with a minty palate, rich structure and intensity”. Outstanding value.

Ring-Bolt Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Western Australia

(£10, Tesco) With a beguiling bouquet topped with violet and cassis, forest floor plush blackberry fruits, and a hint of mocha marrying elegance with strength, this shows how good Margaret River cabernet sauvignons can be at this price.

Torres Gran Coronas Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Penedes, Spain,

(£13.80, Tanners Wines) A dash of tempranillo ups the tempo and fetching aromas of blueberry, cassis and jammy blackberry draw you in, followed by dark cherry fruit, hints of vanilla from oak ageing, a lick of liquorice and a long, luxurious finish with a touch of baking spice on the tail.

Domaine de la Jasse Tête de Cuvée Rouge ‘Black Label’ 2018, Languedoc, France

(£15.95, Mr Wheeler) A gutsy red to swoon over. Perfumed and seductively smooth from word go, it’s brimming with blackcurrant, blueberries and wild berries entwined with savoury herbs, sweet spice and a splendid silky palate with fresh oak nuances and lots of finesse.