These Are The 13 Best Cabernet Sauvignons For Every Budget

Cabernet sauvignon is a popular grape variety that most consumers are likely to come across while shopping for wines or selecting bottles off of a restaurant menu. Often referred to as the king of red grapes, the variety is known for producing some of the most iconic wines of all time. With origins in Southwest France, it has played a significant role in the red blends of Bordeaux. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world it is often produced as a single varietal wine (though small percentages of other varieties are usually permitted), showcasing its characteristics front and center.

Although cabernet sauvignon grows in vineyards around the world, to produce excellent wines, it requires some know-how in the vineyard and cellar, especially if growing conditions aren't optimal. For this reason, the variety shows up in wines that vastly range in price, from affordable entry-level options to luxury bottles that can cost as much as a month's rent.

As a Certified Specialist of Wine, WSET Level 3 holder, and wine writer with experience tasting cabernet sauvignon from around the world, I put together a selection of bottles for every budget. I've kept it at a level of splurge that some enthusiastic wine consumers might be ready to pay, without going beyond to levels of absurdity. Through this lineup of cabernet sauvignon bottles, you'll discover a range of producers, quality levels, and styles of the renowned grape variety. Prices are based on national averages and accurate as of publication.

Although cabernet wines can sell for a pretty penny, there are also some great deals. This bottle of Alamos Cabernet Sauvignon costs just over $10, yet it displays the Argentine terroir and winemaking expertise. Owned by the family behind the longstanding Catena winery, the Alamos brand benefits from over a century of experience producing wines in Argentina. The winery is located in the Mendoza province, where high elevations from the surrounding Andes Mountains offer optimal growing conditions for grapes.

The cabernet sauvignon is made with hand-harvested fruit from vineyards ranging between 3,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level. The high altitude helps balance ripeness, acidity, and aromatic concentration in the fruit. After fermentation, the wine is aged in French oak prior to release, allowing complexity to build. This cabernet features notes of cherry, blackberry, red currant, and cassis, as well as eucalyptus and mint. Hints of baking spice, tobacco, and leather from the oak aging add depth to this wine. If you're looking for great value and flavor for a midweek dinner or casual party, this bottle of cabernet is a hit with grilled meat and hard cheeses.

Chilean cabernet sauvignon offers excellent quality and value, thanks to highly suitable growing conditions. Although there are plenty of premium bottles on the market, the entry-level category offers a wide selection for consumers looking for well-made, affordable cab. That's what you get with Los Vascos Chagual Cabernet Sauvignon, which will run you around $20. The Chilean winery is owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, a historical European producer that brings centuries of experience to the Chilean terroir.

Produced with fruit grown in the Colchagua Valley, where warm temperatures are moderated by cooling breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean, this cabernet sauvignon balances ripeness with freshness. After fermentation, the wine matures in cement vats, allowing the fruit aromas to remain dominant. Dark fruits like berries, currants, and plums are present on the palate, along with notes of black pepper and lavender. It has a bright acidity and firm tannins, making it the kind of wine that pairs beautifully with grilled meat.

Cabernet sauvignon dominates vineyards in Washington's Walla Walla Valley American Viticultural Area, accounting for over ⅓ of plantings. After tasting Seven Hills Winery Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it's clear that the terroir is optimal for this grape. Seven Hills Winery produces a few different cabernets that showcase the diversity of the vineyards, but the Walla Walla Valley bottle is the perfect expression of the region as a whole.

The medium-bodied wine displays rich aromas and firm tannins, offering a quality-driven tasting experience for just $35. During the winemaking process, the wine is carefully balanced with judicious use of oak to ensure the fruit character remains central. Notes of black cherry, raspberry, and blackberry mingle with savory herbs, baking spice, vanilla, chocolate, and cedar on the palate. This dazzling cabernet highlights the quality in the Walla Walla Valley, whether you're looking for a bottle to drink with your steak this week or something to keep in your cellar to mature for a few years.

Margaret River in Western Australia is known for its stellar cabernet sauvignon, and the region even brands it as the King of Margaret River Wines. Thanks to the maritime climate and high-draining gravel soils, the cabernets tend to boast concentrated flavors and an elegant palate. Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon has received high praise from both Australian and international wine critics, highlighting its quality. The wine is fermented and then matured in a combination of new and old French oak barrels for just over a year.

The resulting wine offers a pleasant structure, with bold notes of dark fruits like berries, cassis, and plum, alongside notes of chocolate and cedar. The tannins are smooth and add complexity to the wine, which concludes with a long finish. Retailing for around $40, this richly flavorful and sophisticated wine is an exemplary bottle from Margaret River, rivaling other top international cabernet regions. It's suitable for immediate drinking with hearty dishes like a beef stew, but also worthwhile to store this bottle in your cellar to enjoy for years to come.

Stellenbosch in South Africa is an excellent region for sourcing fine cabernet sauvignon, thanks to optimal climatic and soil conditions. Locally, the terroir is sometimes called the Kingdom of Cabernet, highlighting the exceptional quality that can be found here. Rust en Vrede Estate has been farming grapes for a few centuries, with a modern restoration of the winery and vineyard replanting occurring in the 1970s. Cabernet sauvignon is one of the winery's main focuses, ensuring that it expresses the terroir of Stellenbosch at its best.

After fermentation, the Rust en Vrede Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in French oak barrels for 1½ years, with a proportion in new oak. The wine displays fragrant aromas of black currant and blackberry, balanced by red cherry and bramble fruit. Hints of tobacco, baking spice, and licorice add to the palate, which features woodsiness and structure from the oak aging. Serve the cabernet sauvignon with a roast leg of lamb or a platter of mature cheese; it packs a punch and retails for around $45.

Tuscany may be best known for its sangiovese wines, but numerous producers grow and vinify cabernet sauvignon that's well worth tasting. Thanks to the climate and soil, the red grape thrives in this prized wine region. Tenuta Sette Ponti farms according to sustainable and organic practices, expressing the natural Tuscan landscape in all of its glory.

Poggio al Lupo is made with cabernet sauvignon grapes from the Maremma subregion, which benefits from coastal influences to moderate the climatic conditions. The fruit is hand-harvested, and following fermentation, the wine is aged in new French oak barrels and then in the bottle. The wine offers dark fruit notes of cherry, blackberry, and spice, with hints of walnut, licorice, and earthiness that add a savory balance to the fruit. The bright acidity brings structure and complexity to the wine, which makes an excellent pairing for game meat, beef, and mature cheeses. At just under $60, this is a classic Tuscan cabernet sauvignon you'll want to taste.

Mascota Vineyards is located in the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina, where high elevations and a unique climate offer exceptional conditions for growing grapes. With the Andes Mountains in close proximity, the arid desert terroir is one of a kind. The winery produces a range of wines, with entry-level options paving the way to more premium bottles; there's something for every type of consumer. At $70 a bottle, Magnánime by Mascota Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon fits into the top-tier category.

The wine is made from the best barrel selections from each year, showcasing the highest quality in the vineyards. It boasts concentrated fruit aromas thanks to the high-altitude terroir, with notes of red fruit like cherry, along with dark fruits like blackberry, blueberry, and cassis. Notes of baking spice and roast pepper add complexity to the fruit, alongside toasted oak aromas from the barrel aging process. Thanks to a well-balanced acidity and elegant tannins, this cabernet sauvignon makes a great pairing for robust meat dishes and aged cheeses.

Rodney Strong is a family-owned winery in Sonoma County with a history that dates back over a century, during which time various vineyards were planted and the winery was established. The namesake founder, Rodney, collaborated with scientists from UC Davis to optimize vineyard sites and their growing conditions with the ideal grape varieties. Since its founding, Rodney Strong Vineyards has continued to innovate and grow as it expresses the Sonoma County terroir through its various vineyards and wines.

For example, the Alexander Valley Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon is made with fruit sourced from the Brothers Vineyard, which primarily grows cabernet sauvignon. The vineyard sits at over 1,000 feet above sea level and benefits from plenty of afternoon sun, which helps ripen the cabernet grapes to their full complexity. The wine is aged for two years in new French oak barrels, which infuse it with rich aromas and contribute to its evolution through micro-oxygenation. Notes of dark berry, cassis, and plum mingle with chocolate and mocha in this deep and luscious wine. It retails for $90, and it's just as welcome at your next meaty dinner as it is held in your cellar for another decade.

The Torres family has been producing wine for five generations, though its wine-growing history dates even further back a few centuries. The modern winery maintains the past traditions while expressing the current landscape of some of Spain's most important wine-growing regions. With vineyards and estates across several areas of southern Spain, the terroir and resulting wines are diverse. Familia Torres is a member of Primum Familiae Vini, establishing it as one of the most important wine-producing families on the continent.

Mas La Plana retails for just over $100 and was first produced at the end of the 1970s. The wine is made from grapes grown in the Penedès DO that are now over 50 years old. With the influence of the Mediterranean climate, the fruit ripens beautifully, offering depth and concentration of flavor. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and large oak vats before it ages for 18 months in partially new French oak barrels. The wine displays notes of dark fruit like blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry, and plum, along with oak influences like cedar, tobacco, and chocolate. Savory notes of spice and earth add layers of flavor to this structured cabernet, which makes a great pairing with steak or roast lamb.

Dating back to the late 1800s, Larkmead Vineyards is an important establishment among family-owned Napa Valley wineries. A careful hand in the vineyard and cellar and a balance between tradition and modern practices prove that Larkmead is dedicated to expressing the diversity of the local terroir. With vineyards located between two mountain ranges, the microclimate and soil composition are one of a kind, ensuring unique wines that showcase the land. Larkmead Vineyards farms according to organic practices, ensuring the environment is considered above all.

The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is made with fruit from one of the winery's historic vineyards and undergoes 22 months of aging in French oak barrels. The result is complex and rich, with notes of dark fruit like blueberry, black cherry, and cassis, alongside notes of cedar, graphite, spice, and dried herbs. The tannins are fine and offer the perfect balance of structure and subtlety, allowing this wine to stand whether you serve it alongside your next roast dinner or wait a decade or more. At $125 a bottle, this is a fine expression of a Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon.

At the end of the 1800s, winemaker Don Melchor of Concha y Toro brought vines from Bordeaux to plant in the foothills of the Chilean Andes. Nearly a century later, a namesake wine was produced with fruit from the Don Melchor vineyard, highlighting the potential of Chilean wines internationally. Since then, the wine has been continuously praised and awarded by critics around the world.

Don Melchor is made with cabernet sauvignon fruit from different vineyard plots, forming a balance that expertly showcases the local terroir. After the fruit is hand-harvested, fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks, followed by aging in partly new French oak barrels. The result is a bold wine with bright red fruit aromas along with hints of black currant and blackberry. A floral fragrance adds complexity to the fruit character of this wine, which culminates in a long finish. The wine retails for around $155, making it a suitable choice for a special occasion, served with an equally premium cut of wagyu beef or a truffle risotto.

Penfolds winery is a key producer in Australia, now with vineyards both locally and in California. Since its founding in the mid 1800s, Penfolds has paved the way for innovation in the Australian wine industry, with experimentation at the center of its success. Though it releases several entry-level bottles, its premium lines are especially worthy of attention. This includes the Bin collection, bottles labeled with numbers based on the storage bins in which they were originally kept.

Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon features fruit from the Coonawarra region, which benefits from maritime influences and well-draining soils, optimal conditions for growing cabernet. The 2022 vintage of Bin 169 is perfect for lovers of Bordeaux, with its elegant structure and freshness. The wine is matured in French oak, adding structure to the palate, which displays notes of red currant, cranberry, and pomegranate. The fruity vibrancy is balanced by notes of graphite, herbs, and spice, culminating in a layered wine that can be enjoyed now or over the next two decades. Retailing for $185, this is a dazzling example of the elegance of Coonawarra cabernet in the hands of a reputable producer.

As one of the iconic wineries that received top praise at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, which compared Bordeaux wines with those of California, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars has continued to play a leading role in the California wine landscape. The winery was only founded six years prior to its significant win, cementing it as an influential establishment in Napa Valley. Naturally, its cabernet sauvignon has continued to appeal to wine connoisseurs around the world for over half a century.

The SLV Cabernet Sauvignon has been awarded top points by global wine critics for its bold, concentrated dark fruit aromas and sophisticated tannins. The SLV vineyard was planted when the winery was founded and features volcanic soils that are highly suitable for growing cabernet sauvignon. The wine is aged for 21 months in new French oak barrels, adding structure and elegance to the palate. Notes of dark fruit mingle with hints of cocoa, baking spice, and cedar in this well-structured and complex wine. The 2023 vintage is the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, and for $250, wine consumers can have a taste of history.

To select these cabernet sauvignon wines for every budget, I looked to the various growing regions around the world to optimize for value and quality. Although cabernet sauvignon bottles can be found outside the $11 to $250 price range, I chose these cutoffs to appeal to a greater consumer base. All of these wines are made by reputable producers and offer a broad sampling of cabernet sauvignon around the world and at every price point.