What Factors Should You Consider To Choose The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine
Place Of Origin
The first thing you need to know is the location or the place where the red wine grapes are grown and cultivated. As the grapes are native to France, having a Cabernet Sauvignon wine important from any French winery will be best.
But as nowadays a variety of grapes is grown in several other parts of the world, there is no harm in trying wines from other regions. For example, South Australia is famous for Cabernet Sauvignon because of the dry climate and the red soil which boosts the growth of the grapes.
Similarly, Chile has emerged as one of the largest Cabernet wine producers in entire South America, especially the regions of Maipo Valley and Aconcagua. You can also look for the Tuscany Cabernets, which have become world-famous due to their unique flavor profile.
Wines Age
Not all aged Cabernet taste the same, and thats why you need to consider the age of the wine before buying. The main benefit of buying an aged red wine of Cabernet is the smoothness of the liquid, which will pamper your taste buds the moment you take the first sip.
When a Cabernet is aged, the tannins soften, which reduces the acidity. This helps in making the wine a bit sweeter. However, if the aging is not done properly, the wine will taste bitter because the tannins will be concentrated, and its acidity level will be high.
Flavor Profile
In some wines, you can even find a nutty flavor tone, making the alcohol taste much better.
Color
Wine Quality
Alcohol Content
The Top Cab Is Is The 2016 Chteau Pape Clment Pessac
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Liquor / Chloe Jeong
From its ancestral homeland in southwest France, to the sun-drenched vineyards of California and Washington, to emerging footholds in Tuscany, Australia, and South Africa, cabernet sauvignon stakes a fair claim as the most beloved wine grape in the world. A recent study revealed that it’s now the world’s most widely-planted grape variety, up from fourth place as recently as 1990 .
Besides consumer preference shifting toward so-called “varietal” wines, another cause for cabernet sauvignon’s meteoric rise is that its relatively easy to grow the grape berries are known for their thick skin and natural ability to flourish in a wide range of climates. More important than its ease of cultivation, however, is the fact that cabernet sauvignon is simply delicious. Bold and sturdy, with satisfying dark fruit flavors and big tannic character, its a crowd-pleasing favorite that’s almost never absent from a restaurant wine list .
The Best Cabernets We Drank In 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon was Americas number-one red wine by volume and sales in 2018. According to Nielsen data, we spent some $2.595 billion on Cabs alone.
The Wine Enthusiast team is equally amped about Cab Sauv. Our reviewers tasted more than 1,500 bottles of the variety in 2019, deciphering the best bottles from all over the New World.
Compiled from rankings in our Top 100 Best Buys list, Top 100 Cellar Selections and the 2019 Enthusiast 100, here is a roster of our favorite New World Cabernet Sauvignons of the year. For domestic wines, the selections span across the West Coastfrom Paso Robles to Napa to Washington, while Argentina, Chile, Australia and South Africa are represented on the international front. Featuring both cellar-worthy wines and ones we suggest drinking as soon as you finish reading this article, here are Wine Enthusiasts top New World Cabernet Sauvignons of 2019.
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What Are The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Regions
Cabernet Sauvignon wine is a staple in many households across the country and around the world. In fact, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are the most commonly grown varietal in many wine regions around the world. Why is Cabernet sauvignon wine so popular? It is an extremely versatile wine and the grape it is made from can also be used in blends. Additionally, the grape has a thick skin and hardy vines, which is beneficial to growers in all regions.
Mazzei Philip Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Chianti Classicoâs ancient Tuscan wine-producing region meets the newly discovered Maremma area in this elegant, full-bodied red. The old and the new are utilized to make a balanced wine that will please any palate.
This cab has a dark purple color with intriguing black cherry aromas. It is also filled with balsamic herbs and coffee notes that are intertwined alongside the toasted oak flavors.
Black fruit dominates this flavor profile with some dried flowers, chocolate, and vanilla in an exotic tasting experience just waiting for exploration from start to finish. This complex and full-bodied bottle leaves a velvety smooth finish.
Also Check: Paradise Wine And Spirits
Best Value: 2019 Substance Cabernet Sauvignon
courtesy of astorwines.com
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington | ABV: 14% | Tasting Notes: Blueberry, Violet, Pencil lead
Winemaker Charles Smith, a former band manager who spent the first few years of his wine career selling his bottles out of the back of a van, has been churning out quality Washington State wine since 1999. Within fifteen years of his first vintage, he had been named Winemaker of the Year by both Wine Enthusiast and Food & Wine, and his recognizable black-and-white labels were gracing shelves in all fifty states and a couple dozen countries abroad.
Substance, one of his newest lines, comprises single-variety wines that are fermented naturally and bottled unfiltered and unfined. The 2019 “Cs” cabernet sauvignon is already making fans with its bold and pleasing characteristics of dark fruit, violet, pipe tobacco, and pencil lead, but the wine is sturdy enough that it should continue to evolve and add finesse over the next decade at minimum. Nothing wrong with popping it on a random weeknight, however with its sub-$20 price tag, it’s the type of indulgence you can come back to again and again.
Vrit 2017 La Joie Red Sonoma County
Tasting like a great bottle of Château Lafite, the 2017 La Joie is based largely on Cabernet Sauvignon and brought up, I suspect, in mostly new French oak. Deep ruby-purple, with a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, lead pencil, cedarwood, graphite and tobacco, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, an incredible sense of elegance and purity, building tannins and a great, great finish. This majestic, regal Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is going to require a decade of cellaring to hit maturity and will see its 50th birthday in fine form. I followed this bottle for three days and it never showed a hint of oxidation. This is easily my wine of the vintage in 2017. Jeb Dunnuck
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Where Does Cabernet Sauvignon Grow Best
Cabernet Sauvignon grows best in moderate to warm climates to help the long ripening of the grape.
When unripe, Cabernet Sauvignon is unpleasantly high in tannins. This is why in cooler areas, it is generally blended with other grapes.
Blending and oak aging are the common techniques used to soften Cabernet Sauvignon high tannins.
Here are the typical taste profiles depending on the climate:
- Cool : green bell pepper, mint, black currant, and cedar.
- Moderate/Warm : black cherry, black currant, black olive.
- Very Hot : flavors become more cooked and jammy
Cabernet Sauvignons To Drink Now
Austin Hope 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon $50, 95 points. This bottling remains as impressive and delicious as it did upon debut two vintages ago. Aromas of black cherry, hickory smoke and vanilla cookie lead into a palate of brown sugar, sea salt, caramel and black-cherry foam, all framed by polished tannins and just enough acidity. Matt Kettmann
Lail 2016 Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon $80, 96 points. This is a stunningly beautiful wine that is ageworthy, complex and will stay with you long after its gone. Tones of cedar, clove and cinnamon start it off, followed by a dusting of cocoa powder and toasted oak. Lingering threads of crushed rock, violet and currant carry the finish. It finishes soft and silky. Editors Choice. Virginie Boone
Château Tanunda 2016 Matthews Road Cabernet Sauvignon $18, 92 points. This historic producer excels at Cabernet. Its broody and savory in notes of graphite, dried herbs and flowers amid the red currant and spicy oak notes. Its lifted by a focused line of acidity, which slices neatly through the savory tannins and grainy texture, making the fruit feel crunchy and tangy. Theres something rustic yet classy about this wine. Drink now2026. AUSA Pacific. Editors Choice. Christina Pickard
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Recommended Reading: Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon
What Is Cabernet Sauvignon History
Cabernet Sauvignon is an offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc originated in the 17th century.
Its origin was discovered in 1996, at the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology .
It has been popular in the Médoc region in France since the 18th century. 1976 is an important date for Californias wine.
Thats the date on which Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon won the blind taste test in Paris beating a top French wine.
From this day on, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon gained tremendous popularity.
Today Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted grape in the world.
Best Overall: Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Vivinos tips: 95+ by James Suckling | Featured in Top 25 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines in California right now
Region: United States, California
And the winner is Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
There are at least four things that make this wine stands out compared to the competition
- Extra clarity and finesse compared to the standard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, i.e. its a pure joy to drink
- Has many layers of complexity and rich fruit flavors and aromas thanks to the wine technique employed and the good amount of rain the soil has received in 2017.
- You can drink it now or let it agefor another decade or two if stored properly.
- It offers great value for your money if compared to its peers, as youll save a couple of $100s.
Silver Oak has aged for 24 months in Oak and although it is predominantly made from Cabernet Sauvignon its actually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Petit Verdot , Cabernet Franc and Malbec .
What it means is that you get extra smoothness and velvety texture than in a Cabernet Sauvignon made in purity, i.e. entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
Here is what youll get from it:
On the nose, strawberry, cassis, and black cherry are the most prominent with hints of tobacco and oak.
On the palate, its a velvety and round full-body wine with many layers of flavors. It starts with ripe berries and cassis and develops into nutmeg, coffee, vanilla, and cocoa.
You can find our full review here.
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Whats Cabernet Sauvignon’s Typical Price Range
Theres a Cabernet Sauvignon for every pocket. The price varies considerably and quickly reach $1,000+ for the finest bottles.
- Good quality Cabernet Sauvignon at around $15-$30. Look for Australia, Chile, California , South Africa, and Washington bottles.
- Up to $100 you can get great bottles from California, Australia, and Italy.
- As you go for French and Napa finest bottles the price will quickly skyrocket towards $1,000 and above.
Best With Unlimited Budget
Tasting Notes
An exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon with a bold garnet color. The aromas are expressive and reminiscent of red fruits, such as raspberries and cherries. Nuances of currants and ground cocoa develop as the wine stays in the glass. The barrel aging gives smoky flavors, while the elegant texture meets round tannins. The wine has alluring aromas of raspberries, redcurrants, cherries, brambles, ground cocoa, chocolate, and coffee.
The palate is underpinned by the charred wood characteristics from the extended barrel aging and smoky notes. Flavors of blackberries, blueberries, figs, and herbs are present, too. On top of this, the flexibility of blending multiple vintages is intense, giving this Cabernet remarkable balance and elegance. The tannins are velvety and round, while the overall mouthfeel is soft. Long, lingering finish.
An Incredible Partnership
Opus One winery stands for winemaking perfection. Its a partnership founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, France, and the renowned Napa Valley vintner, Robert Mondavi. The winery produces exclusively luxury wines from Napa Valley vineyards. It has become an iconic label.
Read Also: Stags Leap 2016 Cabernet
Heitz Cellars 2014 Marthas Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
From the famous Oakville site, this aged wine spends three years in 100% new French oak, one in neutral oak and an additional year in bottle. Though it has had time to evolve, it has years to go to unfurl its core of eucalyptus, mint and cedar. It shows an unmistakable crispness of red fruit, orange peel and stone, all honed by a grippy, generous palate. Enjoy 20242034. Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
Best Washington: Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon
courtesy of woodwardcanyon.com
Region: Washington | ABV: 14.5% | Tasting Notes: Black cherry, Menthol, Baking spices
Washington State might seem like an odd place to cultivate a big, rich, warmth-loving red grape like cabernetafter all, isn’t Seattle rainy about ten months out of the year? Maybe so, but once you get east of the Cascade mountain range, the climate is considerably drier and sunnier, yielding one of the nation’s premier growing regions for hearty reds.
Only the second winery to be established in Washington’s prolific Walla Walla Valley, family-run Woodward Canyon has been churning out delicious reds since 1981, and their Artist Series cabernet is a blend of grapes sourced from some of the most highly regarded vineyards in the entire state, including the lengendary Sagemoor Vineyard. “The result is a silky, medium- to full-bodied wine bursting with notes of ripe black cherry, blueberry, cassis, warm baking spices, cedar, black pepper, menthol, and cocoa,” says Claire Coppi, a Certified Sommelier and a cast member on SOMM TV. “Wait about five years before opening, as the wine benefits highly from a little time to integrate in the bottle.”
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Where Does The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Come From
I believe the best cabernet sauvignon comes from Paso Robles because of its proximity to the ocean, which provides the best soils for growing dark, rich balanced cabs. Paso Robles also has perfect weather for cabernets, because of the extreme diurnal temperature swings. This means our daytime temperature is in the 90s and the nights cool down to 50 degrees. These temperature swings are vital in making great cabs it allows the plants to shut down at night resulting in great balanced wines with delicious acidity.
Best For Collector: Shafer
Vivinos tips: 100 by Wine Advocate | Featured in Vivinos 2020 Wine Style Awards: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: United States, Stages Leap District
Tasting notes: Ripe Red & Black fruit notes, Nutmeg, Coffee, Vanilla, Cocoa.
I can just state two facts to demonstrate how outstanding this wine is. Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is rated 4.7/5 stars amongst nearly 8000 Vivinos users. And yes, thats impressive, in case you wonder.
Expect aromas and flavors of dark cherry, black coffee, sweet vanilla and wet forest floor with rose petal, cranberry, blueberry, oregano, and sage.
This wine is perfectly balanced, silky, with smooth tannins, complex and elegant. In the words of Robert Parker, One of the worlds, as well as Napas, most profound Cabernet Sauvignons.
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Best Classic: Chteau Cos Destournel Saint
courtesy of bordeauxtradition.com
Region: Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France | ABV: 13.5% | Tasting Notes: Cassis, Graphite, Chocolate-covered cherries
Whether it’s a genre-defining hip-hop album or a seminal Hitchcock film, sometimes you just need to go back to the old-school offerings to make sense of the new stuffand it’s hard to imagine a more classic interpretation of cabernet sauvignon than Château Cos dEstournel. “This famous estate can trace its winemaking roots back to 1811, and was classified as a second growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, making it one of the elite producers of the region,” says Coppi. “It is a an absolutely stunning wine with the blend consisting of predominantly cabernet sauvignon along with merlot and a splash of cabernet franc.”
As is the case with any serious Bordeaux, some patience is necessary if you want the wine to express its true potential. “In their youth, these are monolithic, muscular, powerhouse wines,” says Coppi. “After a decade or more of cellar aging, the complex layers and nuance of the wine unfold in the glass leather, tobacco, cassis, violets, graphite, black tea, stewed plums, chocolate covered cherries, and coffee are framed by silky tannins and fresh acidity.” It’s an old-school track worth waiting for.
Best Under $: 2016 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Alexander Valley, California | ABV: 13.9% | Tasting Notes: Toasty oak, Cassis, Wild herbs
For almost five decades, the Duncan family has shepherded Silver Oak Cellars on a continued path of perfection. Their Alexander Valley property is worth a visit to California alone, just to experience their LEED Certified Platinum winery and, of course, to taste their Alexander Valley Cabernet.
Classic Silver Oak layers of deeply delicious toasty oak notes are harnessed with vanilla, blackberry, cassis and violets, further revealing black currant and wild herb notes over time in the glass. Expect bold tannins, bold flavors and mind-boggling complexity.
Region: Mendocino County, California | ABV: 14% | Tasting Notes: Plum, Spice, Vanilla
Bonterras reputation in the beverage trade can be distilled into two major points: first, theyre committed to producing quality wines, and second, they were organic before it was cool. Yes, even as far back as 1987, Bonterra has made their wines without using pesticides. The extra effort is evident in their 2018 cabernet, an inspired feat from the originators of organic vino.
Expect flavors of cherry, plum, and spice with pretty oak notes tinged with vanilla. The wine has a hearty structure with soft acidity and a fresh finish.
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