Australia's best wines

The best cabernet and blends in Australia

By The Tasting Team

The Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 2023 has been named the best Australian wine within the cabernet and blends category.

The Halliday Wine Companion Awards celebrate the top wines in Australia – as chosen by our esteemed wine critics who spend the year tasting and reviewing wine from across the country. Below, you'll find Australia's best cabernet and blends, along with the ratings awarded by the Tasting Team.

The very best cabernet-dominant blends are listed here. This is an evocative list of Australian icons, and it represents both regional stalwarts and newcomers. But the common thread is resounding quality. We congratulate Yarra Yering on this win, the second time they’ve taken out this award for their distinguished Dry Red Wine No. 1.

2026 Cabernet and Blends of the Year

Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 2023, Yarra Valley

99* Panel decision | Price when tasted $160


The best wines in Australia

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A blend of 58/23/15/4% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/malbec/petit verdot, the cabernet coming from the original '69-planted vineyard. Matured in barrique (35% new). A deep, bright purple. Classic cool-climate cabernet aromas of black cherry, blackcurrants, cedar, licorice and subtle iodine. The palate is simultaneously concentrated, structured and refined, finishing with an ironstone minerality. Approachable now with food, but anyone who buys some will want to make sure they still have a bottle, or three, 10 to 15 years from now. – Philip Rich

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The 2025 Halliday Wine Companion is available now. Secure your copy of Australia's most comprehensive wine guide at all good bookstores.

This is an edited extract from the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by James Halliday, Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW. Cover art by Vera Babida.


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