Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular red wine on the planet.  We're not going to pretend we can do it justice here in one post, so what follows will be a condensed and contextualized summary of our recent Saturday afternoon Cabernet class.  

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is one of the younger vinifera wine grapes.  It emerged from a vineyard mutation in 1700's western France, perhaps in Bordeaux.  That mutation was caused by an accidental crossing of a Sauvignon Blanc vine with a Cabernet Franc vine.

As it turns out, that crossing may have been the best thing to happen in the wine industry in centuries.  Not only is Cabernet wine as popular as it is but viticulturalists love the ease with which it grows.  Sauvignon is French for "savage" meaning "wildness," and the term refers to the vine's adaptability to different environs.  Nutritionally poor soil is not a problem for Cabernet vines.  And while most grapes are locked into one climate or another, Cabernet does okay in a spectrum of climates, although the warmer the climate, the more pyrazines (bell pepper flavors) become apparent.  Well draining soils are still optimal for Cabernet viticulture but you get the idea - growers love this grape.

The finest Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Bordeaux.  Napa is second best.  Maipo, Chile is third and Tuscany is fourth.  At least that is the opinion of one expert we consulted.  As we've said here many times - Good wine is where you find it and since this grape does so well in so many places, there are probably new great venues yet to be discovered.

California Cabernet is, of course, the toast of the town in this country.  Common characteristics include a high acidity, leathery tannins and flavors of black cherry, pepper and, courtesy of oak barrel ageing, vanilla.  Oak also tends to lighten tannins and accentuate the more complementary flavors in wine.  When blended, and most Cabernet-labeled wines are actually blends, expect more dark berry flavors.

And finally, Cabernet Sauvignon is quintessential red meat wine; be it steak, hamburgers or really, anything else on the grill.  Knowing what we know about how well this grape does everywhere, if you're in the neighborhood wine shop looking for something to have with dinner, hedge your bets and pick up a cab!