However, Cabernet Sauvignon in other less-lauded parts of the world is a different story. Still rich, structured and delivering those all-important black and blue notes of cassis, these Cabernets don't cost the earth.
With the majority from Chile, Argentina, South Africa and Australia, it just goes to show that the production of great, high-quality wines at even better prices is still very much the preserve of the Southern Hemisphere, the north, with its big Bordeaux, Burgundies and Barolos has long left that game.
When it comes to the wines featured on this list, each one costs less than $50 and all have a minimum score of 92 points from at least two critics. To calculate value for money, we use a simple but effective formula of dividing the score by the price – the higher the value, the better the deal.
Taking top spot as best value Cabernet Sauvignon is the 2019 vintage of BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon by Susana Balbo. With a score of 93 points from three critic reviews and an average price point of $19, the Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina's Uco Valley represents undeniably brilliant value. Described by Patricio Tapia of Descorchados as "deliciously varietal," this spicy cab pays homage to its Mendoza terroir making it the perfect companion to pizza and tomato-based pasta. It's also widely available which makes it even better.
Second is an offering from Australia's Coonawarra. Wynns Coonawarra Estate frequently nails the sweet spot between price and quality with their 2020 Black label Cabernet Sauvignon boasting a score of 93 points from three critics and a modest price tag of $21. Rich in dark fruit and herbal notes of mint and lavender, the wine is both ready to drink as well as able to cellar making it both a versatile and veritable bargain.
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In third place is another Australian wine, this time from the Margaret River. The 2018 vintage of Stella Bella again gets rave reviews with a score of 93 points from three critics at a $26 price point. Described by Christina Pickard of Wine Enthusiast as "bright, lucid, textural and approachable", this wine is ready to be opened but can also cellar for the next ten years making it another flexible buy.
Fourth, is the 2018 vintage of Tokara from South Africa's Stellenbosch. With a score of 94 points from three critics, this wine has been extremely well-received while still coming in at the very reasonable price point of $28. A true Bordeaux blend, although the wine is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon, there is a tiny dash of both Petit Verdot and Malbec delivering those notes of five spice and dried porcini.
Number five is the 2015 vintage of Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon, described as having mint chocolate notes, the wine has a score of 93 point from five critics and an average price point of $28.
Like Wynns, Susana Balbo also throws in an older offering with their 2018 vintage of the BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon. Like the 2019 vintage, the 2018 holds a score of 93 points from three critics and although the price point – at $28 – is higher than the 2019, it's saved on a year of cellaring while still delivering on bright fresh fruit.
Best Value Cabernets on Wine-Searcher:
Wine Name
Value factor
2019 Susana Balbo Wines BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon
4.89
2020 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
4.42
2018 Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon
3.57
2018 Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
3.35
2015 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
3.32
2018 Susana Balbo Wines BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon
3.32
2015 Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT
3.17
2018 Vina Aquitania Lazuli Cabernet Sauvignon
2.59
2017 Rustenberg Peter Barlow
2.13
2018 Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
2.08
Seven is the only European wine to make it onto the list. The 2015 vintage of Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon has a score of 92 points from six critics and an average price tag of $29. For those looking for more of an 'old world' style of Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine from the land of the Super Tuscans is a safe bet. Described by the estate as "clean and intense, with complex hints of spices, licorice, vanilla, and cherries," this wine will undoubtedly reward both drinking now and further time in the cellar.
Number eight is from Chile's Maipo Valley. The 2018 vintage of Lazuli Cabernet Sauvignon from Vina Aquitania is, at $37, among the most expensive on this list but is also boasts one of the highest scores of 96 points from two critics. Named after the Lapus Lazuli stone found in Chile, the wine has been described by Patricio Tapia from Descorchados as having both "earthy and menthol aromas, ripe red fruits, herbal touches that unfold elegantly on the palate over soft and highly polished tannins." The wine was also described as the "vintage of the decade."
Nine is the 2017 Peter Barlow by another Stellenbosch estate, Rustenberg. At $44, this Cabernet is the second most expensive on this list but it also scores 94 points by three critics. Described by Jamie Goode as having "dark cherry chocolate aromas" with ginger spice on the nose when it was awarded at the International Wine Challenge, this is both a wine for drinking now and medium-term cellaring.
Last, but not least – certainly when it comes to expense – is another wine from Stellenbosch. The 2018 vintage of Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is the most expensive on this list, topping off at $45 but it also holds a score of 94 points from five different critics. Complex and smoky, the wine has been described by Tom Cannavan as having a "Pauillac-like character" and, for context, the average prices commanded by Bordeaux's Left Bank frequently run into hundreds if not thousands of dollars, so for less than $50, it's a downright bargain.
