Stonehaven Stepping Stone Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 91/100

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Cabernet Sauvignon from the Limestone Coast, South Australia is a dry, medium to full-bodied varietal Cabernet that opens with a stylish and concentrated nose of blackcurrant, dark plum, tobacco leaf, warm cedar, dried sage, and a thread of dark chocolate. On the palate it is structured and engaging, with fine, well-integrated tannins, bright acidity, and a long, layered finish of dark berry fruit, black pepper, and a whisper of mint and cigar box that lingers with real personality. Serve at room temperature and enjoy from 2026 through 2030, decanting for an hour to fully reveal its depth. Winemaker Ben Wurst, who has spent more than two decades focusing on cool-climate wines from the Limestone Coast, crafts this Cabernet from 20-year-old estate vineyards, fermenting in small batches and aging in French oak to build complexity while preserving the region's natural freshness and elegance. The Stonehaven story is one of remarkable revival: the $18 million winery was built by Hardy's in 1998 to celebrate the Limestone Coast's potential, then fell dormant for years after changing hands, before South Australian family company CW Wines breathed new life into the brand in 2021 - and the name itself was given by Scottish pioneers who settled the region and christened their land Stonehaven, the same patch that is now the Wrattonbully vineyard. Pair it with a hearty beef stew slow-cooked with red wine and root vegetables, where the wine's dark fruit and cedar notes will weave beautifully through the richness of the sauce, or serve it alongside a grilled steak with a peppercorn crust, letting the wine's firm structure and earthy depth rise to meet every savoury, charred bite.

Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: beef stew, grilled steak, roasted game.

Best Beef Wine

This Stonehaven Stepping Stone Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 was reviewed on April 11, 2026 by Natalie MacLean

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Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.

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