James Halliday 95 Points

Teusner Kavalier Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a rich, structured and beautifully crafted Barossa Cabernet from one of the valley’s most celebrated boutique producers — concentrated, precise and built with the dark fruit depth, fine tannin structure and cassis-driven complexity that makes Kavalier one of the most distinctive and compelling Cabernet Sauvignons in the Teusner portfolio.

With 95 points from James Halliday, the 2022 Kavalier stands at the pinnacle of Teusner’s Cabernet range — sourced from carefully selected Barossa Valley vineyards and crafted by Kym Teusner with the same minimal-intervention philosophy and obsessive attention to old-vine fruit quality that defines everything Teusner produces. While the Barossa Valley is celebrated above all for Shiraz, Kym Teusner’s Kavalier demonstrates that the valley’s ancient soils and warm climate can produce Cabernet Sauvignon of extraordinary depth, structure and complexity that rivals the finest examples from anywhere in Australia.

My Wine Man

This is for someone who wants a serious, structured Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the valley’s most celebrated boutique producers at an exceptional price.

Barossa Cabernet is genuinely rare — the valley’s reputation rests almost entirely on Shiraz, which means that great Barossa Cabernet from a producer of Teusner’s calibre is a genuine discovery. Kavalier delivers the full weight of Kym Teusner’s winemaking expertise applied to a variety that shows a completely different side of the Barossa — structured, precise and built for the cellar, with the kind of cassis-driven complexity and fine tannin framework that makes great Cabernet so compelling and age-worthy.

At HK$229, this is exceptional value for a 95-point Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon of this quality and structure.

In my view, this is one of the finest Barossa Cabernets available — structured, precise and built to reward patience.

What makes this wine stand out

This is all about Barossa Cabernet precision and Kym Teusner’s mastery of a variety that shows a completely different side of the valley.

Blackcurrant, cassis, dark plum and black cherry sit at the core, with cedar, graphite, fine tobacco, bay leaf and the characteristic structured elegance that defines great Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate is full-bodied with firm, well-structured tannins and a long, precise finish that speaks to the quality of the Barossa fruit and the ambition of the winemaking.

The defining feature is the structure — this is Cabernet built for the cellar, with a tannin framework and fruit concentration that will reward patience and develop beautifully over the next decade, revealing layers of complexity and secondary character that make great aged Cabernet so compelling.

Structured, precise and completely compelling.

Style / drinking window

Full-bodied with blackcurrant, cassis, dark plum, cedar, graphite and fine tobacco notes.

Firm well-structured tannins and fresh acidity provide precision, structure and a long, complex finish.

Drinking well now with decanting, with peak drinking from 2026 onwards and a cellaring window extending well into the 2030s.

Why this is a smart buy

If you want a serious, structured 95-point Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon with genuine ageing potential at an accessible price, this is exceptional value.

It delivers:

• 95 James Halliday points — the benchmark score for Barossa Cabernet from one of the valley’s most celebrated boutique producers
• the structured precision, cassis-driven complexity and fine tannin framework that defines great Cabernet Sauvignon — a completely different side of the Barossa from Shiraz
• genuine ageing potential and structure at a very honest price

Ideal for roast lamb, beef, venison, aged hard cheese or a special occasion dinner. Decant for at least 1 hour.

Explore more Teusner and premium Barossa reds

• Teusner The Riebke Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021 → same producer / entry-level Shiraz / vibrant and approachable
• Teusner Big Jim Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018 → same producer / rich and structured Barossa Shiraz
• Teusner FG Righteous Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 → same producer / collector-level / pinnacle of the Teusner range

Life’s too short for bad wine.