I’m reviewing the 2023 vintage of Co-op Irresistible Cabernet Sauvignon as part of my awards25 series. This particular vintage won a silver medal at the 2024 International Wine Challenge (IWC), so I was naturally keen to try it. It’s produced by Viña Indómita in Chile’s Maipo Valley, with winemaking led by Diego Covarrubias. This is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 10 months in French oak and comes in at 14% ABV.
It’s worth highlighting from the outset that this is the 2023 vintage I’m discussing, the one that took the IWC silver. The 2022 is still available in some stores, but having tasted both, I can say with confidence that they are markedly different wines. I much prefer the 2023, which feels much more expressive.
What’s first noticable is that the bottle says this a medium-bodied wine, which is unusual for a Cabernet Sauvignon. The first thing that hits you on the nose isn’t the expected leathery, earthy depth, but a generous wave of ripe red fruit. Letting it breathe brings out more classic Cabernet character, with those leathery undertones beginning to show.
On tasting, it’s lighter than your standard Cabernet, but in a way that greatly adds to its charm. It doesn’t rely on power or density to impress. Instead, it offers something more elegant and refined. The bottle label says it is smooth with plum and blackcurrent flavours, and while I’d agree there’s a plum-like juiciness, I wouldn’t describe it as traditionally smooth. It has soft tannins and a very enjoyable fruit-forward profile. The finish has a distinctly woody character, with a lingering smokey aftertaste that adds depth. I really like this wine.
It’s lighter-than-normal profile didn’t quite pair quite so well with the steak I had it with. It’s one of those wines best appreciated on its own, on its own merits, rather than forced into a traditional food match. That’s part of what makes it memorable. It challenges the expectation that Cabernet Sauvignon must always be bold, dense and go with steak. This proves that a lighter, more nuanced approach can be just as compelling in its own right.
At £9.65 from Co-op, and occasionally on offer for as low as £7.75, it offers real value. Do note, though, that availability can vary by store and prices may change.
