Organic Hill Founders Preservative Free Cabernet Sauvignon 2023: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Polished Tannins & Glossy Fruit

A polished McLaren Vale Cabernet with the dark-fruited confidence you want from the variety, softened by organic and biodynamic farming and bottled without added preservatives. Expect blackcurrant, cassis, red fruits, chocolate, spice and classic tobacco leaf, carried by fine-grained tannins and a fresh line of acidity that keeps it balanced rather than heavy.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic, vegan suitable and no added preservative
• Crafted by Organic Hill — a McLaren Vale producer focused on organic passion and preservative-free winemaking
• Blackcurrant, cassis, chocolate, spice and classic Cabernet tobacco leaf
• Cabernet Sauvignon from Organic Hill’s Sellicks vineyard in McLaren Vale
• 95 Points — Wine Orbit
• 14.0% ABV

Tasting Notes

Deep purple with ruby hues, this Cabernet opens with fresh blackcurrant, cassis, red fruits and tobacco leaf, with chocolate, mixed spice, dried herb and cedar adding savoury depth. The palate is medium-bodied, dry and lively, shaped by blackcurrant, ripe red berry and classic Cabernet spice. Fine-grained, chalky tannins bring structure without harshness, finishing focussed, persistent and food-ready.

Winemaking

The Cabernet grapes were harvested from Organic Hill’s organic and biodynamic vineyard in McLaren Vale. The wine was fermented in an open-top fermenter using CLOS yeast, then kept on skins for 10 days with twice-daily pump overs to build flavour, tannin and colour. It was pressed and bottled early without finings or sulphur dioxide additions, retaining freshness and keeping the wine free of added preservatives.

Vineyard & Vintage

This wine comes from Organic Hill’s Sellicks vineyard in McLaren Vale, South Australia, where the proximity to the ocean brings cooling sea breezes and helps retain varietal definition and natural acid line. McLaren Vale’s Mediterranean climate suits Cabernet when managed carefully, giving dark fruit, savoury spice and structure while keeping the palate fresh. The 2023 release sits at 14.0% ABV with a dry residual sugar profile.

Why We Love It

This is a rare combination: a serious McLaren Vale Cabernet with organic, biodynamic, vegan and no-added-preservative credentials, yet it still tastes classic and complete. It has the blackcurrant and tobacco-leaf detail Cabernet drinkers look for, with enough freshness and fine tannin to make it work beautifully at the table.

Food Pairing

With blackcurrant depth, savoury tobacco notes and fine Cabernet tannins, this wine suits richer dishes with protein, umami and a little char. It is also excellent with earthy vegetarian flavours, especially mushrooms, lentils and roasted garlic.

Try matching this wine with →

• Vietnamese shaking beef with watercress and lime — Find a Recipe
• Wild mushroom and lentil shepherd’s pie — Find a Recipe
• Roast garlic chicken with herbs — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Open this when dinner deserves a beautifully made red but you still want something crafted with care and restraint. It is well suited to roast dinners, slow Sunday lunches, winter entertaining or gifting to someone who appreciates a classic Cabernet with cleaner credentials.

Cellaring

Drink now with 20–30 minutes of air, or cellar under good conditions until 2028 for the winery’s recommended window. The Wine Orbit review suggests it has the structure to continue developing well beyond that, but for a no-added-preservative wine, careful storage is especially important.

Producer

Organic Hill is based in McLaren Vale, South Australia, with vineyard material drawn from Sellicks, close enough to the ocean for cooling breezes to help protect freshness and acid line. The producer works with certified organic and biodynamic fruit and has built a clear identity around preservative-free wines that still taste varietal and complete. Their Founder’s range sits at the premium end of the portfolio, using thoughtful extraction and early bottling to keep the wines vibrant while preserving structure, purity and regional character.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy structured, preservative-free reds with savoury depth, these are good bottles to explore next:

• Same producer, softer Grenache profile — Organic Hill Founders Preservative Free Grenache
• Fresh McLaren Vale Shiraz with no added preservatives — Paxton NOW Preservative Free Shiraz
• Classic Cabernet in a more everyday preservative-free style — Organic Hill Preservative Free Cabernet Sauvignon

FAQ

What does Organic Hill Founders Preservative Free Cabernet Sauvignon taste like?

It tastes like classic Cabernet with a preservative-free, fruit-bright edge: blackcurrant, cassis, red fruits, chocolate, spice and tobacco leaf. The palate is medium-bodied and dry, with fine-grained tannins, fresh acidity and good length. It is structured, but not heavy or hard.

Is this wine dry, full-bodied or tannic?

This is a dry red wine, with product specs placing it in the dry sugar range. The body is medium rather than huge, and the tannins are fine, chalky and approachable. Cabernet naturally brings structure, so expect shape and grip, but the finish remains balanced.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This wine is No Added Preservative, meaning sulphur dioxide has not been added during winemaking. Like all wine, it may contain tiny amounts of naturally occurring sulphites from fermentation. It is also certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable.

How should I serve this Cabernet Sauvignon?

Serve it at around 16–18°C in a generous red wine glass, ideally with a little breathing room in the glass. A short decant of 20–30 minutes will help the blackcurrant, cedar and tobacco notes open up. Avoid serving it too warm, as the alcohol and tannin will become more pronounced.

What food pairs well with it?

It is excellent with roast lamb, shaking beef, roast garlic chicken, blue cheese crostini and wild mushrooms. The tannins suit protein, while the savoury Cabernet notes work beautifully with herbs, garlic, mushrooms and earthy vegetarian dishes. For a meat-free match, try mushroom and lentil pie or grilled portobello mushrooms.

Can Organic Hill Founders Cabernet Sauvignon be cellared?

Yes, it can be cellared, with the winery suggesting drinking now or cellaring until 2028. The 95-point review also noted a longer window, showing there is structure and persistence here. Because it is no added preservative, store it carefully in a cool, dark, stable place.

Is this wine vegan friendly?

Yes, this wine is vegan suitable. It is also certified organic, certified biodynamic and made without added preservatives. That makes it a strong choice for drinkers who want a classic red with more mindful production credentials.

Who will enjoy this wine the most?

This is for drinkers who love Cabernet’s blackcurrant, cassis and tobacco-leaf character, but prefer tannins that are fine rather than aggressive. If you enjoy McLaren Vale Cabernet, Coonawarra Cabernet or structured savoury reds, this will make sense. It is also a good step up for fans of Cabernet Sauvignon looking for organic and preservative-free options.

How long will it last after opening?

As a no-added-preservative red, it is best enjoyed within 1–2 days of opening. Reseal it and keep it in the fridge, then let it come back up slightly before serving. A vacuum stopper can help preserve the fruit for the second glass or next night.

Is this wine keto friendly?

It is dry, with residual sugar in the dry range and sugar per 100mL below 1 gram. That makes it a more suitable choice for many low-sugar wine drinkers than sweeter red styles. As always, consider total alcohol intake alongside sugar if you are following a strict keto approach.

(SKU: OH_FCS_CV)