Catherine’s Favorite Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon
The Village's #1 Frequent Flyer
Meet Catherine, Vino Village's #1 Frequent Flyer. She's an international jetsetter with an intense personality and an athletic build from all the outdoor sports she plays.
She dresses in dark ruby, loves gardening green plants like her mom Camille (Cabernet Franc), and leans on her sister Mary (Merlot) to smooth things over when she comes on a little strong.
In wine terms? Catherine is Cabernet Sauvignon, the most planted wine grape in the world. It's a natural cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It thrives in warm, sunny climates.
It originates from Bordeaux, France, though it has since traveled just about everywhere: the US, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Spain, and Italy all make excellent versions of their own.
Expect a full-bodied red wine with high acidity and firm tannins, built on flavors of black cherry, black currant, cedar, and baking spices, often with a green bell pepper note from its parent grape Cabernet Franc. In the glass, it's deep ruby to garnet (when aged) in color.
Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with Merlot to soften its structure, along with other Bordeaux grapes like Cabernet Franc, to make a rounder wine, though it also stands well on its own as a single-variety wine. It's one of the most age-worthy red wines around, often improving for a decade or two, growing smoother and more sophisticated the longer it sits in the bottle.
Now let's find you some bottles she'd actually approve of.
Catherine's Top Picks
We picked bottles from Catherine's homeland and beyond. All available on Pop Up Wine Singapore and Straits Wine Singapore. Click any wine name to shop it.
1. For a casual weeknight
Mojo : Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Limestone Coast, Australia | $40 / bottle
Catherine says: "I'm from Bordeaux, but I'll be the first to admit that the Australians make great Cabernet Sauvignon. This Australian bottle is rich with cassis and mulberry and a touch of spice, and the 2018 vintage scored 93 points from Wine Pilot. A simple but indulgent glass for a Tuesday."
Pairs with: Grilled steak, burgers, or a simple cheese board
2. For a weekend BBQ
McHenry Hohnen : Rocky Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Margaret River, Western Australia | $45 / bottle
Catherine says: "This one is complex, with red and dark fruit and savory, meaty notes underneath, exactly what I want with something off the grill. It won a Silver medal at the International Wine and Spirit Competition, judged by some of the sharpest palates in the business."
Pairs with: Grilled lamb, barbecued ribs, or a smoky eggplant dish
3. An Aussie Cab with pedigree
Majella : Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Coonawarra, South Australia | $55 / bottle
Catherine says: "Majella is a five-star winery in James Halliday's book, and this label has scored 95 and 96 points from him across several vintages, not a one-off. Expect mint, cassis, and mulberry, with fine tannins and real length. That kind of consistency is exactly what I look for in a producer."
Pairs with: Roast lamb, aged cheddar, or grilled portobello mushrooms
4. Great value-for-money
Château Larose-Trintaudon : Cru Bourgeois Supérieur 2018
Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France | $59 / bottle
Catherine says: "This is proof that Bordeaux doesn't have to be expensive to be excellent. Six different critics landed this exact vintage between 90 and 92 points, from James Suckling to Wine Enthusiast to Decanter, and it picked up a Grand Gold at the Frankfurt International Trophy too. Bright cassis and plum with fine oak spice. That's real quality, not just a label."
Pairs with: Roast beef, herb-crusted lamb, or a mature Gouda
5. To impress at a dinner party
Château Malescot St. Exupéry : La Dame de Malescot 2018
Margaux, Bordeaux, France | $85 / bottle
Catherine says: "La Dame de Malescot is the second wine of Château Malescot St. Exupéry, a classified estate in Margaux, made from the family's younger vines. Expect currant, spice, cedar, and a touch of chocolate, with fine, polished tannins. James Suckling gave it 93 points. Pour this one when you want to impress."
Pairs with: Rack of lamb, duck breast, or a truffle risotto
6. For a cellar-worthy splurge
Château Marquis de Terme : Margaux 2016
Margaux, Bordeaux, France | $138 / bottle
Catherine says: "Now we're talking about my hometown's finest. Marquis de Terme is a classified Fourth Growth from Margaux. Expect dark plum, cassis and cherry compote, with supple tannins and real elegance on the palate. Eight different critics landed this exact vintage at 90 points or higher, from Vinous to Wine Enthusiast to Decanter, and it picked up a Silver medal at the International Wine and Spirit Competition too. Save this for a truly special occasion."
Pairs with: Prime rib, venison, or aged hard cheeses
Cabernet Sauvignon Cheat Sheet
| Body | Full-bodied |
| Color | Deep ruby to garnet |
| Tasting notes | Black cherry, black currant (cassis), cedar, baking spices, herbaceous notes like green bell pepper |
| Serve at | 15–20°C |
| Best with | Grilled meats, peppery sauces, aged cheeses, hearty roasts |
| Avoid with | Chocolate desserts, delicate fish, or very spicy dishes |
| Glass type | Oversized or Bordeaux glass (large bowl to soften the big tannins) |
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