Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's red wine grape. This red wine is called "King Cab" by some and an interloper by others. It's all things to many grape farmers, vintners and wine drinkers. Some dismiss it, and some have wine cellars full of nothing else. Bordeaux wine might be regarded as the apogee of the grape, but many new regions would beg to differ. Regardless of how you feel about Cabernet Sauvignon, it has helped many winemakers the world over add complexity to blends and is grown in almost every wine region on the planet. You'll find it covering the vineyards of France, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina, among many others.
What kind of wine is Cabernet Sauvignon?
Not as difficult to grow as Pinot Noir but pickier about soil and climate than Merlot, the thick-skinned Cabernet Sauvignon grape needs warmth to ripen. It finds its most revered and expensive expressions in the Left Bank of Bordeaux, where it is blended with Merlot, Carménère, and Cabernet Franc, among other grape varieties, to create distinct wines with immense aging potential due to high acidity and tannins. It's not only used for these Bordeaux blends but also in the robust and heady single varietal and appellation Napa Valley and Sonoma California Cabernets and in Super Tuscans from Italy. The best Cabernet Sauvignon wines can still be vibrant after a century or more.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon dry or sweet?
Thankfully, as winemaking technique has advanced in the last few decades, we see more accessible young Cabernet bottlings that can beguile the senses from day one. The dark fruit scent of blackcurrant (also called cassis) is a hallmark of the grape, but other often found notes include black cherry, blackberry, plum, eucalyptus, mint, tobacco, pencil shavings, and (if picked early) the scent of green bell pepper. Whether you are drinking Washington State or Western Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon will be there with its vibrant fruit flavors and food pairing-friendly nature to show you something transcendent.
Want to learn more about Cabernet Sauvignon?
Want to learn more about Cabernet Sauvignon? Check out Firstleaf’s Ultimate Guide to Cabernet Sauvignon.