Italo Cescon, Cabernet 75cl

When you’re craving a red wine with some backbone, Cabernet is the move, and this Italian one shows up with flavour and structure in equal measure. It’s bold enough to feel special, but still easy to enjoy without turning it into a homework assignment.

• Country: Italy, which means a more food-friendly take on Cabernet, less jam-bomb, more savoury edge.
• Grape style: Cabernet character (dark fruit, firm tannins), so you get that satisfying “proper red” grip with every sip.
• Why it matters: Those tannins and deep fruit make it a natural match for rich dinners and big-flavour takeout.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Deep ruby with a darker core, the kind of colour that hints you’re in for a serious red.
• Nose: Blackcurrant and ripe plum upfront, then cedar, a touch of dried herbs, and a little cocoa-like warmth.
• Taste: Dark berries lead the charge, backed by a savoury, slightly spicy streak. Dry, with tannins that feel firm and confident, plus fresh acidity that keeps it lifted.
• Body: Medium to full-bodied, filling without feeling heavy.
• Finish: Long and gently grippy, with lingering cassis, spice, and a faint earthy note.

This is a great pick for nights when you want a red that can keep up with the plate, think grilled meat, mushroom dishes, aged cheese, or anything coming off a barbecue. It also works when you’re building a “house red” rotation that doesn’t taste boring on day two.

Cabernet can sometimes feel one-note when it’s all fruit and nothing else. Here, you get layers, fruit, spice, and that slightly savoury Italian twist, so each glass stays interesting.

Bring it to a dinner and you’ll look like you planned ahead. Keep it at home and it’ll rescue your weeknight meals from mediocrity.

Fun Fact: Italo Cescon is known in Italy for its eye-catching “sleeved” bottles, a distinctive wrap that made their wines instantly recognisable on shelves.