Our 5 Cabernet Sauvignon Picks for Autumn 2026
Sep 26, 2026
The lanterns from Mid-Autumn Festival have barely come down, but their timing says everything: Autumn has arrived in Hong Kong. The air is finally shedding its humidity, evenings call for long sleeves again, and the wine rack starts asking for something with more weight than a summer white. There is a reason Cabernet Sauvignon has remained the most planted red grape on earth, its firm tannins, dark fruit, and structure were built for exactly this stretch of the year, from the first cool evening through to the last roast dinner before winter.
Cabernet Sauvignon's dominance is no accident. Born in Bordeaux from a natural crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the grape found its truest expression once it crossed the Atlantic to Napa Valley, where volcanic soils and reliable sun produce wines of extraordinary concentration and ageing potential.
Below are five bottles, ranging from easy daily drinking to full-blown cult wines, worth having on hand as the season turns.
Vilafonté Seriously Old Dirt 2022, Paarl, South Africa
Named for the ancient, iron-rich soils of the Cape, Seriously Old Dirt is the everyday face of Cabernet done right. This 94% Cabernet Sauvignon blend, rounded out with small parts Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, offers blackcurrant, dark cherry, and a touch of cinnamon spice, wrapped in satin-like tannins that make it approachable within a year of release.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate scored it 93 points, remarkable consistency for a bottle built for weeknight drinking rather than the cellar.
Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2023, Bolgheri, Tuscany
Guidalberto carries one of Bolgheri's most respected surnames without the Sassicaia price tag. A 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot blend from 18-year-old vines, it opens with cassis, sun-dried black cherry, and Mediterranean herbs, layered over creamy tannins and a bright, mineral-tinged finish.
James Suckling and Decanter both scored the 2023 vintage a generous 96 points, with Wine Advocate close behind at 93, numbers that hold their own against wines costing two or three times as much. Skip the Sassicaia price tag, and you still get to the good stuff.
Pauillac de Latour 2020, Pauillac, Bordeaux
This is your entry ticket into one of Bordeaux's most legendary addresses. Pauillac de Latour is the third wine of Château Latour, made from younger vines and declassified parcels but crafted with the same meticulous eye as the grand vin. The 2020 is a Merlot-led blend rounded out with Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Petit Verdot, showing sweet redcurrant, cassis, licorice, and a lively, energetic finish.
Decanter, Jeb Dunnuck, and Vinous all landed around 92 to 94 points, with James Suckling right there at 93; an unmistakable Château Latour signature at a fraction of what the first wine commands.
Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley
Randy Dunn built his reputation on mountain fruit and a refusal to chase high alcohol, and the 2016 Howell Mountain shows exactly why. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 32 months in new French oak and famously hand-dipped in red wax, delivers crème de cassis, lead pencil, violets, and tobacco leaf, wrapped in the lean, chalky tannins Dunn is known for.
Wine Spectator awarded it 95 points, and Jeb Dunnuck compared it to a great Saint-Julien from Bordeaux, which is a high praise for a wine still built to age for decades.
Opus One 2018, Napa Valley
Few labels carry the symbolic weight of Opus One. The story dates back to a chance meeting in Hawaii in the early 1970s, when Bordeaux's Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Napa pioneer Robert Mondavi decided to build a single-vineyard Oakville estate farmed like a Bordeaux château, but made with Napa's natural ripeness and sunshine, one of the first true "cult" wines to come out of California.
The 2018 vintage is where that vision comes together almost perfectly. This 84% Cabernet Sauvignon blend, rounded out with Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a splash of Malbec, delivers pure blackcurrant, dark cherry, cardamom spice, and a herbal lift of rosemary, wrapped in tannins so finely woven the whole thing tastes effortless.
James Suckling scored it 99 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it 98, and Decanter has rated the estate's last decade of releases at an average of 97, remarkable pedigree for a fraction of any Bordeaux First Growth's price.
From Everyday to Iconic
From the effortless charm of Seriously Old Dirt to the landmark heights of Opus One 2018, this lineup reflects Cabernet Sauvignon's full range, approachable enough for tonight's dinner, structured enough for the cellar. As the weather cools and heartier meals return to the table, this is exactly the season to reach for a bottle of Bordeaux.
Whether you are after an easy weeknight red or a bottle worth cellaring for decades, our range spans everyday favourites to serious collector's wines, there is a Cabernet Sauvignon here to stop you mid-sip. Message us on WhatsApp and we will help you find the right bottle and vintage for your table.
Good prices, 300+ bottles
