All About Cabernet Sauvignon

Grapes, grapes, grapes. This grape, that grape, today’s grape: Cabernet Sauvignon. New to the world of grapes? Or simply looking to learn more about Cabernet Sauvignon? Then you’re at the right place, for this is: Cabernet Sauvignon 101!

What is Cabernet Sauvignon?
Imagine a grape that's like a chameleon, adapting to various climates and soils while maintaining its distinct character. That grape is Cabernet Sauvignon. This grape variety is known for producing red wines that are full-bodied, rich, and often age-worthy. The flavours? Picture a basket of dark, juicy fruits: black cherries, blackcurrants, blackberries, and plums– mingling with subtle hints of herbs, spices, and even a touch of cedar and granite!

A Global Citizen: From Bordeaux to Beyond
Cabernet Sauvignon didn't limit itself to one corner of the world; it spread its vines across the globe, a versatile grape that adapts almost anywhere. Its home base is in Bordeaux, France, where it's often blended with other grape varieties to create iconic wines. In California's Napa Valley, it's the leading actor, producing wines that exude power and elegance. Australia's Coonawarra region and Chile's Maipo Valley have also embraced this grape, each adding their own twist to its character.

Terroirs? What Are Those?
“Terroir” is a fancy term for the environment where grapes are grown, and it plays a significant role in shaping Cabernet Sauvignon's personality, or any grape variety, for that matter. This is where the soil, climate, and even the angle of sunlight all leave their mark on the grapes, and play a role in determining the wine's flavour profile. 

Ageing Potential
Ever wondered why some wines get better with age? Cabernet Sauvignon is one of those grapes that rewards one abundantly for their patience. Wines made from this grape variety usually ages gracefully in a cellar, its flavours evolving and deepening over time. As the years go by, the wine unveils aromas of cedar, tobacco, and even leather, like a treasure chest of flavours waiting to be unlocked.

 

Want To Give Cabernet Sauvignon a try, or just looking for a new bottle? Give these juices a shot!

↪️ Domenico Fraccaroli Ripasso Doc Valpolicella Superiore 2016
This wine has plenty of aged strawberries and cherry blends with black pepper nose. Complexity shows on the palate with fresh and aged cherry, coffee, and dried fruit. Its body is velvety smooth with soft tannins - an all-rounded great tasting and easily drinkable wine any time of the week. 

↪️ Ciu Ciu Esperanto Docg 2013
From the regions of Offida, Esperanto wine, an idiom able to bring together people, races and cultures. This wine combines years of rich, deep and strong territorial roots and years of commitment from the winemaker to grow amazing grapes, resulting in truly incredible tasting wine that is elegant and refined Montepulciano and Cabernet grape varieties, meticulously grown and processed separately in their own selected oak barrels are then blended together and made available to you following an ageing process that lasts 24 months, 12 of which takes place in the bottle. This truly is what Italians call “Optima.”

↪️ Chateau La Croix Bellevue Pomerol 2018
This wine represents true French elegance. Many have raved its plum, chocolatey, jammy notes are one to remember. No need to wait for this wine to breathe or open up - it's beautifully balanced straight off the bottle with medium-high acidity, full-bodied, strong but pleasant tannins and a smooth long finish. Viva la France!