Cabernet Sauvignon is often referred to as “the king of grapes,” and with good reason. This late-ripening red varietal is grown to high levels of quality throughout the world, showing its characteristic dark fruit and cedar notes. Suitable for extended oak and bottle aging, it provides some of the world’s most expensive bottlings from Bordeaux, the Napa Valley, and beyond.
Planted more than any other red-skinned grape, Cabernet Sauvignon thrivesCabernet Sauvignon is often referred to as “the king of grapes,” and with good reason. This late-ripening red varietal is grown to high levels of quality throughout the world, showing its characteristic dark fruit and cedar notes. Suitable for extended oak and bottle aging, it provides some of the world’s most expensive bottlings from Bordeaux, the Napa Valley, and beyond.
Planted more than any other red-skinned grape, Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in all but the coolest climates, where the late-ripening variety cannot reach full maturity. Everywhere else, though, this relatively easy to grow grape enjoys great success. It can be made varietally or in blends, increasing its attractiveness to winemakers. ...more ...less
What makes Cabernet Sauvignon such a special red wine is its concentration of phenolics – the chemical compounds found in grapes that impart color, tannins, and flavor compounds. Because of this concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent candidate for aging – a well made Cab can easily cellar for 20-50 years. It’s also a powerful wine, well suited to oak treatment during vinification, which only increases its concentration and longevity.
What makes Cabernet Sauvignon such a special red wine is its concentration of phenolics – the chemical compounds found in grapes that impart color, tannins, and flavor compounds. Because of this concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent candidate for aging – a well made Cab can easily cellar for 20-50 years. It’s also a powerful wine, well suited to oak treatment during vinification, which only increases its concentration and longevity.
In its French home of Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is almost invariably blended, and the final wine tends to reflect the decisions of the winemaker about what the final expression of the wine should be. Frequently, particularly in California, the wine is made monovarietally, and can show more of a sense of place. Alcohol levels can be higher and acidity lower, creating a plusher taste that pairs well with bold food.
California is an important second home of Cabernet Sauvignon, with some sought-after Cabs falling firmly into “cult” status, with extremely limited availability and the price tags to match. Luckily for fans of the grape, this is a rare situation, and with tens of thousands of acres in the state planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, there is no shortage of this popular wine available to its fans.
Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its ability to produce wine that is very recognizably Cabernet, regardless of the region where it is grown. Its hallmark flavors and aromas of blackcurrant, black pepper, and eucalyptus combine with its structure and power to create a high quality red wine that couldn’t be anything other than Cabernet Sauvignon. ...more ...less