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Cabernet Sauvignon wine is a dark-coloured grape variety best known as the primary grape in Bordeaux blends. This type of wine has an intense, dry and tannic flavour that’s medium to full-bodied and features blackcurrant, cedar or tobacco notes. Other descriptors include graphite (pencil lead), minerals, mint and cocoa. It pairs well with beef tenderloin, roast lamb, cheddar cheese and more!
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Where does Cabernet Sauvignon originate from?
Cabernet Sauvignon is a French wine grape that was originally cultivated in the Aquitaine Department of France (the Bordeaux region).
In 1997, UC Davis researchers (Carole Meredith and John Bowers) shocked the wine industry by revealing that Cabernet Sauvignon is a descendent of Sauvignon Blanc (and Cabernet Franc).
It’s true that Sauvignon Blanc leaves resemble Cabernet Sauvignon vines. That being said, no one ever considered a white grape to have generated something of this ilk before.
How is Cabernet Sauvignon made?
Cabernet Sauvignon’s red pulp is placed inside a fermentation vessel, where it’s given between 10 and 25 days to ferment. From there, the wine rests in oak barrels (for up to 18 months), where it extracts its colour and aromas from the wood. The end product is then bottled and sold on store shelves!
What’s the best way to store this wine?
Cabernet Sauvignon must be stored between 10°F and 55°F (~13°C and 18°C). Any colder, and the wine will cause a chemical reaction. Any warmer and the flavours in your bottle will diminish rapidly!
Cabernet Sauvignon tasting notes
What does Cabernet Sauvignon taste like? Wine drinkers today can find many Cabernet Sauvignon options in the market. Some Cabernet Sauvignon wines are sumptuous and fruity, others are savoury and smoky. It all depends on where the Cabernet Sauvignon grows and how it’s made into wine.
There are four main wine regions that the wines come from.
Bordeaux, France
Tasting Notes: Black Currant, Anise, Tobacco Leaf, Plum Sauce, Pencil Lead
The Bordeaux region of France is the original Cabernet Sauvignon growing area. It’s here that the grape tastes the best and has the most age potential. However, you won’t find many single-varietal Cabernets there; instead, they’re usually blended into the region’s namesake “Bordeaux Blend”
Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in gravelly soils in Bordeaux. So, if you’re searching for a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine, look to the Médoc’s Graves Subregions as well as gravelly areas within Côtes de Bourg and Blaye.
North Coast, California
Tasting Notes: Black Currant, Blackberry, Pencil Lead, Tobacco, Mint
The North Coast AVA (American Viticulture Area) includes Napa Valley and Sonoma, as well as a few less-known places where Cabernet Sauvignon is produced.
When in 1976, an English wine merchant held a blind tasting of French and Californian wines with France’s top wine critics, the Cabernet grape became famous in the region. Later dubbed “The Judgment of Paris,” the Californian vintages won over the French ones, demonstrating that excellent wine may be created outside of France!
South Australia
Tasting Notes: Black Plum, White Pepper, Currant Candy, Chocolate, Bay Leaf
The Coonawarra region in South Australia is characterized by its warm climate and red clay soils (terra rossa) with high iron-oxide content. This area, as well as Langhorne Creek, is noted for its exquisite (and one-of-a-kind) interpretations of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wines are deep and tannic, with notes of white pepper or bay leaf. Australian Cabernet wines that are high in quality are often put into screw cap bottles. So don’t be scared by the bottle top!
Chile
Tasting Notes: Blackberry, Black Cherry, Fig Paste, Baking Spices, Green Peppercorn
Chile has some of the greatest bargains on amazing quality Cabernet Sauvignon. While Chile exports a lot of wine from its enormous Central Valley, the best Cabernet comes from the Aconcagua, Maipo, Cachapoal and Colchagua Valleys.
The location of Maipo Valley between the cooling Pacific Ocean breezes and hot, interior Andes Mountains creates one of the most ideal Mediterranean climates for Cabernet Sauvignon. You’ll discover excellent examples of Alto Maipo wines from the sub-region.
Cabernet Sauvignon vs. Merlot: what’s the difference?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are both wine grapes that come from the same Bordeaux grape family. They’re cousins, rather than siblings. However, they taste dramatically different.
How so? When we talk about “tannin content,” we’re talking about a phenolic compound in wines (commonly associated with red wine) that’s responsible for astringency. You’ll sometimes taste tannin as a dry sensation in your mouth, or as a puckering feeling on the sides of your tongue.
Cabernet Sauvignon has high tannins and can have very little to no Merlot in it at all! For example, a wine with a high Cabernet Sauvignon percentage is the La Tâche from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Merlot, on the other hand, has significantly fewer tannins and lower acidity levels than most Cabernets. In addition, it’s often blended with other varieties in Bordeaux, including Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
What’s the best temperature to serve Cabernet Sauvignon?
The best temperature to serve this wine is usually 60 to 65°F (16-18°C). Serving Cabernet Sauvignon too cold will mask its flavour profile.
What glass should you use?
For this type of wine, the best glass is a Burgundy glass or Cabernet glasses. If you don’t have these types of glasses, go for stemless wine glasses.
Where can you find the best prices?
If you want to buy a great bottle of wine, don’t let price be your most decisive factor. Look for wines from reputable producers and vintages with high ratings from publications like Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate and Robert Parker.
When it comes to finding the best deals on Cabernet Sauvignon, online retailers tend to carry more supplies than offline stores. So if you want a better chance of finding wines at lower prices, try looking online first!
What are the best food pairings with Cabernet Sauvignon?
Cabernet Sauvignon is often regarded as the best wine to pair with big-bodied red meats, especially burgers. If you’re eating burgers, go for a burger that packs in a sharp cheddar or aged gouda to stand up to this dark wine’s sharpness. You’ll love its subtle cedar and mint flavours.
Cabernet Sauvignon is also a great choice for wine-friendly foods like pizza with tomato sauce, pasta in mushroom alfredo or beef stroganoff. You can’t go wrong pairing this bold red with classic Italian fare!
What are some common ways to cook with Cabernet Sauvignon?
Cabernet Sauvignon is often used in marinades for beef, pork and chicken. Additionally, dishes that include fresh vegetables or side salads can benefit from a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon (for both flavour and texture).
How might I use the wine in my recipes?
It’s common to replace some red wine with Cabernet Sauvignon for added depth. You may also add a little Cabernet Sauvignon in place of some red wine in a barbecue glaze. It’s also common to add the wine at the end of cooking for a more complex flavour profile.
