A natural crossing between the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that originated in Bordeaux and is now considered one of the most popular red varieties in the world! It is a late ripening red grape that has exceptional potential for aging on oak and is known for its firm tannins and ripe full-bodied structure. Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety of course known for its prominent role on left back Bordeaux-blends and found its way through Spain towards the rest of the world. There are surprising wines made with the grape coming from opposite parts of the globe, making certain sub-regions very well-known for their production of Cabernet. Think of Coonawarra in South- Australia or Napa in California. The Cabernet Sauvignon grape thrives on different soils but leads to stunning results on the red clay ‘Terra Rossa’ soil of Coonawarra. Other notable regions are Margaret River in Western Australia. Other regions of France are Languedoc, Provence, Loire and the Southwest.
Apart from this we find the grape in New Zealand, Spain, Chile, Italy, Argentina, South-Africa and even China! Usually, we will find the Bordeaux blends produced here with Cabernet Sauvignon as the leading star.
Aromas
Cabernet is known for its darker fruit aromas like black cherries and plums, but also for more firm aromas like cedarwood and pencil shavings. The pencil shavings aroma will be, along with the notes of red capsicum, one of the most characteristic aromas that will let you spot Cabernet Sauvignon from far away! Depending on the climate, the notes of capsicum will either be fresh, grilled or baked.
Wine type
A full-bodied red with a high number of tannins and high in alcohol.
Colour
Deep ruby red
Food matching
You will be good with anything that contains red meat. Look for riper notes in the food to combine with the ripeness of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Think of beef stew, grilled steak, venison, lamb with grilled capsicum or a ripe piece of Comté cheese.
Discover more from Gettinghotforwine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
