Taste And Flavor Profile
Cabs are decidedly dry in style and range from medium-bodied to full-bodied. They are characterized by higher tannins, which serve to provide structure and complexity while supporting the rich dark fruit characteristics. The popular red wine displays medium acidity and is commonly paired with food. The most common aromatic and flavor components found in cabernet sauvignon are dark fruits like plum, black cherry, and blackberry along with warm spice, vanilla, licorice, and black pepper. You will frequently whiff aromas of tobacco and leather.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon Full
Wines that are over 13.5% ABV are considered full-bodied wines. Some wine varieties considered full-bodied include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. Although most full-bodied wines are red wines, Chardonnay is an example of a white wine that can come in medium-bodied and full-bodied varieties.
Where Can You Find The Best Prices
If you want to buy a great bottle of wine, dont let price be your most decisive factor. Look for wines from reputable producers and vintages with high ratings from publications like Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate and Robert Parker.
When it comes to finding the best deals on Cabernet Sauvignon, online retailers tend to carry more supplies than offline stores. So if you want a better chance of finding wines at lower prices, try looking online first!
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When Do You Drink Cabernet Sauvignon
As a general rule, magnum and other large-format bottles of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon taste best 12-20 years after release. As you’ll see in this wine vintage chart, Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon flavors change from vintage to vintage, but you’ll see some flavor trends in each decade as the wine ages in bottle.
How Do You Store Opened Cabernet Sauvignon
Keep the open wine bottle out of light and stored under room temperature. In most cases, a refrigerator goes a long way to keeping wine for longer, even red wines. When stored at colder temperatures, the chemical processes slow down, including the process of oxidation that takes place when oxygen hits the wine.
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Cabernet Sauvignon Food Pairing
I will always say you should eat whatever you enjoy with your wine. Its your wine and your food after all.
But lets look at some ideas if youre looking to pair cab sauv with food:
Its a full-bodied red wine with intense fruit and savory notes, high tannins, and medium to high acidity. Looking at each of these characteristics in turn allows us to build a complete picture of what pairs well with the cabernet sauvignon taste profile. For even more information on what makes the perfect food pairing for cab sauv, check out our full article here.
The Difference Between Cabernet Sauvignon And Merlot
Due to the famous Bordeaux blend, cabs and merlots are closely intertwined despite the fact that they are different varieties of wine. They both blend beautifully with other wines and are often blended with other wines, which further confuses the two varieties.
Merlots are fruity, while Cabernets have more of a bite and intensity from the green bell pepper note. When blended into other wine varieties, Merlot sweetens dry wines, while cabernet dries sweet wines. Both cabernet sauvignon and merlot age well in oak however, Merlot grapes must be picked immediately to prevent overripening. Cabernet grapes are much more forgiving.
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The Characteristics Of The Grape
Known for these three distinct features, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is the core of the famous wine and what creates its unique flavors. The grapes are small and sturdy, which means they are resilient and can live in many different climates, weather conditions, diseases, and insect infestations. This is why you can find Cabernets from so many regions around the world and it is so readily available for people to enjoy.
These grapes are ideal for barrel aging because these grapes have a unique ability to blend with oak, during both fermentation and barrel aging. Oak barrels mellow out the tannins and impart new flavors to the wine, the easy blending of the grapes with the oak makes this wine so easy to drink.
These grapes have thick, black skins, which are packed with tannins Additionally, these grapes take less time to ripen on the vine and are easy to pick, which is ideal for winemakers. These grapes aren’t finicky compared to other varieties, which explains the popularity of this wine among almost every winemaker.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon Sweet
The complex flavor profile is dominated by bold dark fruits, although undertones of smoke and leather add plenty of intrigue.
This is a wine for both beginner and experienced wine drinkers. Cabernet Sauvignon isnt a sweet wine.
Its classed as a dry wine, as the sugar is converted to alcohol during the fermentation process.
And with a heavy tannin structure and some savory notes on the palate, Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine that lacks the sweet fruit taste of other reds.
The full body of Cabernet Sauvignon makes it a popular choice for food pairings, particularly if youre tucking into a fatty steak.
Read on to discover what makes Cabernet Sauvignon so delicious.
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Where Is Most Cabernet Sauvignon Grown
The top regions where Cabernet is planted are France, the U.S., and Australia. Since the grape is known as a tougher grape that can survive harsh conditions, it thrives in most any location, making it a wonderful grape choice for vintners, and a popular varietal and blending wine for winemakers. With that said, certain regions are known for Cabernet, particularly the famous Bordeaux region of France.
When our founder, James Concannon, found his way to the Livermore Valley, he knew that it was an opportune planting region for Cabernet due to its warm days, cool nights, and undeniable similarities to Bordeaux. After discovering the richness of Livermore Valley terroir, James imported Cabernet Sauvignon vines from Chateau Margaux, a prestigious wine estate in Bordeaux, to start a vineyard of his own. James was a maverick who was not only one of the first winemakers in the state to bottle Bordeaux-style wines, but who also paved the way for the future of California Cabernet Sauvignon. Jamess trailblazing spirit and Concannon Vineyards historical winemaking leadership in the state of California is why four out of every five bottles of California Cabernet Sauvignon comes from clones of our Cabernet vines.
Cabernet Sauvignon : Everything You Need To Know
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the global wine market with a vast range of styles and affordability. Your options range from high-rolling cult-status bottlings to an array of popular bottles that run around $20.
A Bit About Cabernet Sauvignon
In her book, Wine Grapes, the worlds most revered wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson MW, defines Cabernet Sauvignon as the worlds best-travelled red wine variety making concentrated, tannic wines for particularly long ageing.
Best-travelled is a great way to put it. The tiny, thick-skinned grape is planted all over the world, and is eventually transformed into a vast array of wines. Serious collectors have stocked their cellars with Frances best Cabernet-dominant Bordeaux-blends for centuries – especially those from top estates, like Château Margaux or Château Mouton-Rothschild . One of the main reasons they are First Growths is they produce wines so well-structured that a single bottle is capable of developing gorgeous complexities over multiple decades if stored properly. You can read more about Bordeaux wine classifications here.
Enthusiasts join collectors in swooning over Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, where bottlings tend to be much more fruit-forward and opulent. Several of the best examples are built for aging. Others are best consumed in their youth.
What does Cabernet Sauvignon taste like?
Below we break down what to expect from five countries where Cabernet Sauvignon wines are abundant:
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Where Does Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Come From
Cabernet Sauvignon is produced in a huge range of countries and wine regions. Fortunately, Cab is also well-suited to a relatively broad range of micro-climates and terroirs, which means that growers and producers around the world have found success with it. There are, of course, certain standout regions for Cabernet Sauvignon, and no two are more well-known than Napa Valley and Bordeaux. In Napa, producers leverage warmth and abundant sunshine to create Cabs of power, generosity, ripe fruit, and depth. Many of the top California Cabs are varietally labeled, meaning that only Cabernet Sauvignon appears on the bottle .
Many of the most prized cult wines of Napa, like Harlan Estate, Screaming Eagle, and more, are built on a backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon. For some consumers, names like Silver Oak, Caymus, Alpha Omega, and others are inextricably linked to their primary grape variety. In Bordeaux, especially on its Left Bank, Cab is often used as the main component in blends, typically alongside some combination of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton-Rothschild, and more are dominated by the grape variety.
Full Body And High Tannins
Most wine recommendations usually suggest protein with tannins.
So to match the high tannins of the wine were looking at chunks of meat. Steaks, roasts, and rich stews are friends of high tannin wines.
The full body style means you need intensity in the sauce too. Beef Bourguignon would be too light for a cab sauv. Whereas short ribs, often in an intense, sticky sauce, are perfect as youll feel the fruit and savory notes bursting from the wine when paired with the meat and rich sauce.
This may seem like a cabernet wont work with vegetarian dishes. But cabernet sauvignon tastes amazing with mushroom risotto, I know its the laziest example of vegetarian food ever.
Seitan will also work nicely though, especially if theres a rich sauce to go with it and some roasted potatoes and vegetables. Braised red cabbage is another awesome veggie side that works well with cabernet.
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The Origins Of Cabernet Sauvignon
The original source of this beloved wine remained shrouded in mystery for many years. The truth was not discovered until the late 1990s, when researchers discovered that the wine originated in a crossing of two varieties of grapes during the 17th century. These varieties were known as Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, thus creating the wine that we know and love today.
The grape which makes Cabernet Sauvignon is well known for its ability to withstand a myriad of environmental conditions, and as a result, this vine thrives in a number of locations without regard for soil conditions. In fact, this durability of the vine played a role in the wines discovery, with French producers choosing varieties that could withstand the ever-changing climate of the region. This also explains why the vines have been so successful all over the world.
What Is Cabernet Sauvignon
Often called “Cab” for short, Cabernet Sauvignon is a hybrid of the red Cabernet Franc grape and white Sauvignon Blanc grape. Also known as Petit-Bouchet, Petit-Cabernet, and Sauvignon Rouge, the black-skinned Cabernet Sauvignon grape is renowned for its thick skin, resilience against the elements, and ability to proliferate in a variety of climates.
It’s grown in nearly every wine-producing country in a range of climates. Some of the most notable wine regions include France , California , Washington state , Italy , Australia , Chile , Argentina, South Africa, and New Zealand.
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Climate And Terroir For Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a choice grape variety for wine drinkers and vintners alike because of its taste profile and ease to produce. The vines are incredibly hardy and can grow in an array of climates and terroirs. They produce grapes with thick skins which are highly resistant to damaging weather like frost and hail.
Yields are often high, which can be a huge positive for winemakers considering that Cabernet is one of the most in-demand red wines around the world. On the other hand, controlling yields is also important for more boutique, craft wineries who are looking for a more refined product. This requires further investment in labor costs and a choice selection in terroir.
Ironically, if you were to look at it on a timescale starting when humans first tried wine, Cabernet Sauvignon hasnt been around that long. It was stumbled upon during the 17th century in Southwestern France, where Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc were crossed to form a new grape variety. .
Beyond Bordeaux there are a plethora of quality Cabernet growing areas. Venture into regions like the Loire Valley, Lebanons Beqaa Valley, Tuscany, and Navarra in Spain to truly expand your palate and see this grapes potential.
A variety of New World countries and regions produce fantastic Cabernet. From New Zealands Hawkes Bay region to Australias McLaren Valley, all the way to regions across Chile and even Stellenbosch in South Africa.
Best White Cabernet Sauvignon Examples
Wilson Creek Variant Series White Cabernet Sauvignon This American wine is sweet with lots of berry and tropical fruits. A fantastic summer wine ideally served chilled. Add this to your wine hitlist and get your hands on it as soon as possible. This truly smooth white Cabernet Sauvignon is worth a wine enthusiasts attention.
Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi Del Vesuvio Bianco This Italian gem is fantastic with seafood and light meat. A perfect wine for dinner parties and special occasions. Aromas of lemon, apple, and peach. Pear and apple on the palate with a flinty finish. A refreshing and thirst-quenching wine.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes is an amazing example of the innovation of American winemakers. It is an award-winning wine that consists of pears, apples, pineapple, butter, oak, and kiwi. It has rich fruit-packed aromas and a persistent finish.
Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Blanc A real French white Cabernet Sauvignon. This fine wine runs about a thousand bucks per bottle. The magic of its golden color is full of citrus, minerals, and spice.
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Is Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine
Red wines exhibit a range of colors Deep Purple to Bright Ruby Red to Pale Red. The color of red wine comes from the grape skins thick or thin. You can tell the transparency and color of wines based on the grape skin. The translucent and pale red wine is due to the grapes light skin color and thin skin. The opaque and deep purple color of red wine is due to the thick skin and dark skin color of the grapes.
Cabernet sauvignon is between translucent and opaque and ruby red in color.
Pairings for Cabernet Sauvignon
The high tannin content in Cabernet Sauvignon provides a nice balance between fatty foods and wine. The full bodied, dry, tannin rich red wine washes away the fattiness of fatty foods such as cheese, meat, and more.
Cheese pairing options
Mild, Sharp, or Smoked Cheddar
Havarti
Camembert
Food pairing options
Complex spice and herbs, white meats such as pork or duck, red meats like burger, lamb, steak, and vegetables such as eggplants, potatoes, Roasted or grilled portobello mushrooms, bell pepper, and tomatoes.
Cabernet Sauvignon Wines Do Well With Oak
This means that the winemaker will often age the wines in oak barrels. Aging wine in oak does a couple of things.
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Oak will stabilize the wines color
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Oak will soften harsh tannins
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Oak can add complexity with baking spices, mocha, vanilla, and even smoke
Because Cabernet Sauvignon is such a big wine, winemakers often blend it with a small portion of wine from a different grape. This can help tame Cabernet and make it more drinkable earlier on .
Winemakers often add Merlot as the blending partner of choice for Cabernet Sauvignon. It brings luscious red fruit, softer tannins, and medium acid.
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Tasting Notes On Cabernet Sauvignon
Flavors will vary a bit depending on where the grapes are grown and the specific winemaking process. But in general, Cabernet Sauvignon has dark fruit flavors of blackcurrant , black cherry, blackberry with notes of green bell pepper, spice, tobacco, wood, and vanilla . No matter which wine region it grows in, Cabernet Sauvignon is dry and tends to be full-bodied with medium-to-high tannins and palpable acidity.
As such, Cab often ages well on average, you can keep it in a wine cellar for 7-10 years. Compare that to Merlot, which you can cellar for 3-5 years, and Pinot Noir, which you should drink within five years. For more ways to make your wine last, be sure to check out our guide on how to store wine.
Whats The Difference Between Pinot Noir And Cabernet Sauvignon
Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon are two of the most popular wines in the world. Pinot Noir is elegant and thin and needs a delicate palette to appreciate its finesse, while Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful and bold and gives a punch in every sip you drink.
One of the great differences between Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon is the thickness of its skin. While Cabernet Sauvignon has a thick skin, making the grape more resistant to climatic diversities, Pinot Noir has a very thin and sensitive skin making it difficult to adapt to places other than its place of origin , as it necessarily needs to be in cold and dry climates.
Another difference is that these grapes are grown in different climates and have different harvesting periods. The first to be harvested is Pinot Noir, which grows best in colder climates while Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested later and develops better in warmer climates.
Of these two red wines, the lighter is usually Pinot Noir with a light to medium body, while Cabernet Sauvignon ranges from medium to full-bodied. The final sensations that the wines leave in the mouth are also different. The finish of Pinot Noir will leave pleasant flavours of cherry, raspberry and strawberry in the mouth, while the Cabernet Sauvignon will leave flavours of black cherry, plum and currant in the mouth. When evaluating the finish, its also important to also note the impact of acidity: it will be lower in Pinot Noir and very high in Cabernet Sauvignon.
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