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There is a diversity of Cabernets that vary from elegant left bank Bordeaux style wines to bold higher alcohol fruit dominant Napa-style reds.

The BC grapes are more than 30% more expensive than those in Washington State, where Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular red grape.

Here is a list of excellent BC Cabernets for $40 or less to enjoy this year.

Chronos Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 ($39.99)

The grapes were carefully sorted and gently pressed. The wine saw a combination of French and American oak, 20% new oak.

Alcohol 13.7% | TA 5.5 | pH 3.44 | RS 3.5

A medium plus bodied red. Dynamic aromas of black cherry, black currant and fig. Rich flavours of black cherry, dark plum and leather with a touch of tobacco. A juicy mouthfeel with smooth tannins, deep complex flavours and a long finish.  91 Points

Hester Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 ($34.99)

The grapes for the small lot Cabernet Sauvignon are from a superb, warm site on the estate Golden Mile Bench vineyard blocks 7 and 8. They are French Clone 191 from St. Émillon and 169 from Bordeaux, which brings a ripe, approachable, rich texture to this wine. Planted over 16 years ago, the vines prefer little irrigation, producing smaller, more intense berries.

14.5% Alcohol / pH 3.78 / TA 6.75 / RS 0.29

The fruit was handpicked, sorted and destemmed. The whole berries were cold-soaked for 4 days in Italian Ganimede fermenters for ideal extraction. After fermentation, the grapes were gently pressed on the skins and underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged on fine lees with fine French Oak barrels from Saint Martin and Alain Fouquet cooperage for 16 months.

The cabernet has vibrant aromas of black cherry and cassis. The full-bodied wine has flavours of blackberry, toasted oak and cloves. The ripe, firm tannins lead to a long, delicious finish. It’s an age-worthy wine. 92 Points

Dirty Laundry Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($27.99)

Alcohol 14 % | pH 3.74 | TA 5.7| RS 2.09

90% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Similkameen and Okanagan Valley, 10% Merlot from the Okanagan Valley. Grapes are picked at optimum ripeness levels and fermented separately to feature the unique attributes of each grape. The wine spent 12 months in neutral oak with 75% French and 25% American oak.

A beautiful deep ruby red colour. Aromas of raspberry, cherry and chocolate. On the palate, black plum, blackberries, cherries, leather, and a hint of dark chocolate and pepper. Smooth tannins give way to a luscious, long finish. 91 Points

Pairs well with BBQ NY strip steak, burgers and game meat.

Silver Medal Winner at 2021 All Canadian Wine Championship.

Winemaker’s CUT Bohemian Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Wineclub only)

From the Quail’s wayside vineyard in Oliver. Hand-harvested on 25th October 2020 at an average of 25.5 Brix, 3.6 tons per acre.

Cold-soaked for 1 day and then organic yeast fermentation for 15 days. A free run press with full malolactic fermentation. Aged for 6 months in French and American oak then bottled unfined and unfiltered.

14% Alcohol / 3.87 pH, 5.9 TA / 2.2 RS / free SO₂ 21mg/L / total SO₂ 59

A gorgeous black fruit aroma with flavours of black cherry, black currant and a hint of thyme. A medium/full-bodied complex wine with structured tannins and a long finish. 91 points.

Lunessence Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 ($34.99)

This is a single vineyard Cab from a single block with very limited production. The wine was aged for 8 months on Hungarian and French oak, then spent 10 months in bottles before release.  This is a young cab with grippy firm tannins. Please decant and aerate before drinking if you are not going to cellar the wine. 12.5% alcohol.

The wine was made to achieve terroir flavours of Cabernet Sauvignon, full of black fruit, vanilla, bacon and black leather underlined with toasty oak.  The wine is great now with BBQ steak. 91 Points

Inniskillin Okanagan Estate Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 ($14.99)

Make sure you aerate or open the wine an hour before serving. The Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby red in colour with aromas of black currant, cherry and vanilla on the nose. Flavours of red plum, black cherry and blackberries with toasty oak and soft tannins. Ready to drink right now. 88 points

The 2021 vintage is $16.99.

Church and State Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)

Fermentation and maceration for 21 days with skin contact in stainless steel tanks. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.

Alcohol 14% |TA 5.3 g/L | RS 2.7 g/L

A juicy fruit-forward cab with aromas of blackcurrant, plum and sage. When it first opened, there were intense flavours of cherry, dark chocolate, olive tapenade, cedar, leather and black pepper.  A complex full-bodied wine with smooth tannins. It is very drinkable right now and can only improve with age. 92 Points.

Township 7 Provenance Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 ($33.97)

This vintage was crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate Blue Terrace Vineyard in Oliver with the remainder from Raju Vineyard in Osoyoos. The Blue Terrace grapes have a rich fruit profile to balance the intense tannins from the Raju fruit, located close to the US border. A 21-day maceration period with varied cap management promoted rich fruit and tannin extraction. Gentle pressing and subsequent malolactic fermentation in primarily French oak barrels (1/3 of which were new), enhanced softening of the mouthfeel.

Alcohol 13.5% | pH 3.65 | TA 6.3 g/l | RS 1.8 g/l | Vegan

Full rich aromas of dark fruit and caramel with a hint of cigar. The full-bodied cabernet has flavours of black currant, cherry and leather with a touch of tobacco. A juicy mouthfeel with smooth tannins and a long finish. 91 Points

Cassini Cellars Collector’s Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 ($34)

Five days of cold soak, open-top fermenters, temperature control during the fermentation, extended skin contact gives the wine rich colour and extraction with great complexity and balance. The wine was aged for 18 months in new and 2-year-old barrels, 85% French oak and 15% American oak. 

Welcome to Napa North! 14.6% Alcohol. A dark brooding cab. Floral aromas of rose petals and black fruit. Flavours of ripe dark plum, black cherries, cassis, dark chocolate, vanilla with a hint of black and green peppercorns and caramel, firm tannins and a long finish. This is the way I love my cabs but decant at least an hour before serving. Will improve with age and drinks way past its price point. 93 Points

Blasted Church Cabernet Sauvignon 2021($36)

The Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the Jose Vineyard (clone 191 and 169) on the western edge of Osoyoos, Inkameep Vineyard (clone 169) on the Oliver East Bench, and the estate vineyard on the Skaha Bench. The Petit Verdot portion of the blend was sourced from the Lloyd Vineyard on the west side of Osoyoos. Each individual lot of fruit was hand-harvested separately at its optimal balance of sugar, acidity and tannic ripeness. At the winery, the fruit was destemmed but not crushed and transferred to tanks for 5-day cold soaks before the fermentations kicked off. The separate fermentations were each managed according to their specific needs, with pump-overs ranging from 1 to 3 times daily depending upon the status and stage of the ferments.

After 18 to 28 days on skins, the free-run wine was drained from the tanks to barrel for malolactic fermentation.  The oak was all French (30% new), with the balance being made up of second, third, fourth-fill, and neutral barrels. The wines were in barrels for 12 months before being racked to a tank for blending. They were returned to barrels for an additional 6 months of aging before bottling.

14% Alcohol. 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot

It’s a gorgeous, deep, ruby colour. Delightful aromas of cassis, ripe dark berries and leather. A medium-plus-bodied cabernet with flavours of blackberry, blueberry, plum, dark chocolate and a hint of tobacco. The grippy tannins dance on your tongue, and the finish goes on forever and ever. The 2021 “Heatdome” vintage is a winner. 93 Points

Conclusion

I would love to hear your comments if you have tried these BC wines. Also, let me know if you have a favourite BC Cabernet Sauvignon I should try.

Note: The original article was updated in February 2024 with more current releases.