27 Oct Getting To Know Your Cabernet Sauvignon a Little Better
Cabernet Sauvignon is undoubtedly the monarch of the red wine grape world; its regional and historical roots are firmly entrenched in Bordeaux, France. These grapes thrive in regions that have an abundance of sunshine, enjoy a warm climate and a range of soil conditions. This wine is typically viewed as very robust and has rich, fruity aromas and flavours, solid acidity and a good tannin structure. Cabernet Sauvignon (Cab) is decidedly a global grape variety, and appeals to people from various regions and cultures.
The global favourite – some facts
- This grape gives a complete expression to place and as mentioned earlier shows riper fruit character when grown in the warmer New World wine areas such as Washington, California, Australia and Chile.
- The Napa Valley in California has built a very strong reputation on the foundation of Cabernet Sauvignon, creating wines that have excellent aging potential, many with higher alcohol levels and serious palate power.
- In France and Italy, which are the Old World wine regions Cabernet Sauvignon is largely blended. Some of the most notable blends from Bordeaux are made primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Merlot.
- In Italy, this grape is generally found in the robust red wine blend – “Super Tuscan,” that falls outside of the country’s stringent DOC appellation regulations. These wines have a higher percentage of Sangiovese grapes with a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon added in good measure.
- Most cabs are medium-bodied to full-bodied and decidedly dry in style.
- They have higher tannin levels, are complex in their structure; this supports their rich, dark fruit characteristics.
- The commonest flavourful and aromatic components found Cabernet Sauvignons are black cherry, plum, warm spice, blackberry, blueberry, black pepper, vanilla, and tobacco; sometimes you will also find leather flavours or aromas in these wines.
Food Pairings
The higher tannin level in Cabernet Sauvignon wines make them a perfect pairing for foods rich in protein and fat and it goes well with red meats and foods ranging from grilled game, prime rib, sausage dishes, burgers and cheeses such as Cheddar, Stilton and Gruyere.
Key Producers of Cabernet Sauvignon that are a must-try
- Shafer Vineyards
- Beaulieu Vineyard
- Caymus
- Chateau Maucaillou Le Bordeaux
- Mondavi
- Beringer
- Greg Norman
- Penfolds
- Clos du Val
- Grgich Hills
- Hall
- Sterling Vineyards
In addition to these, some of the other Cabernet Sauvignon you should try include Ridge, Pine Ridge, Paul Hobbs, Ramey, Screaming Eagle, Joseph Phelps, Stag’s Leap, Chateau St. Jean, Wine Cellars, McManis, Souverain, Rubicon, Concha Y Toro, Hogue. Jardin, Montes and Columbia-Crest
Cellaring Cabernet Sauvignon the right way
A well-crafted Cabernet Sauvignon will continue to develop and become more robust over time. This wine’s personality evolves in a manner that leads to improved texture and aromatic complexity. When stored appropriately, balanced Cabernet Sauvignons can be easily enjoyed for decades. If you are considering cellaring these wines, some of the things you need to keep in view are:
- Select a cellarworthy wine – Purchase blended Cabs that have lower-than-average sugar levels ; these provide the perfect acid balance that help create a Cabernet Sauvignon built to age well for decades.
- Consider cellaring timeframe – Cabernet Sauvignons that have been crafted with balance and aged in fine oak can be cellared for a number of years, and you can enjoy the lasting flavour and aromatic influences of bottle age.
- Store it right – A custom designed environment-controlled cellar is the best way to store your Cabernet Sauvignons and other premium wines.
For any more information about Cabernet Sauvignon wines or custom wine cellar design and installation, you can call Signature Cellars on 02 9340 7515 or use this contact form to get in touch with us. We’ll be pleased to assist you and provide custom solutions that match your requirements.
Thanks for reading,
Neil Smallman
Signature Cellars
1300 570 636
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