Cabernet Sauvignon

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Species: Vitis Vinifera
Parentage: Cross between Cabernet franc & Sauvignon blanc
Aliases: Bouchet, Bouche, Petit-Bouchet, Petit-Cabernet, Petit-Vidure, Sauvignon Rouge, Bidure
Grape Color: Black
Regions: Bordeaux, Tuscany, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Australia
Other important regions include Tuscany, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Australia
Type(s) of Wine the Grape Produces:
Classified Bordeaux Estates, Californian cult wines

“King of the Red Wine Grapes.” The colonizer of the vineyards, pushing native wine grapes into its shadows. The Cabernet Sauvignon is wildly popular in wine regions throughout both the Old World and New World. Its most intimate roots trace back to the Bordeaux Wine Region in Southern France.

For an avid wine drinker, some major elements of the Cabernet Sauvignon are worth noting. The most distinctive element of Cabernet Sauvignon is its black currant aroma, which is present in all its wines worldwide.

Revered for being tough-skinned, its reputation Read more »

Revered for being tough-skinned, its reputation in the wine world lies in its ability to age and develop maturely in a bottle. The grape’s thick skin keeps it resistant to disease while contributing to its aging expertise.

Regardless of any consistency Cabernet Sauvignon has in its aging process, each stage wildly differs from the next. An unripe Cabernet Sauvignon tastes herblike, like bellpeppers, while an overripe version tastes like...jam. And while young Cabernet Sauvignon tastes similar to black cherries and plums, a mature one brings the ever-picturesque definition of the word into the fruit, embodying the flavors of cedar, cigar boxes, and pencil shavings.

A warm climate strongly influences whether or not a ripened Cabernet Sauvignon grape should be used as a varietal or a blended component. Abundant sunshine is directly correlated with the production of varietal wines from a Cabernet Sauvignon grape, since it ripens to its fullest potential. In regions with a cooler, less ideal climate, Cabernet Sauvignon acquires a ‘green bell pepper’ flavor, as a result of not being fully ripened. In the late 20th century, they were thus coined the nickname “Monterey Veggies.” Other cooly-grown Cabernet Sauvignon flavors include mint and eucalyptus.

Though Cabernet Sauvignon has proven to be adaptable to most vineyard soil types, it has historically performed best in gravel. Gravel provides drainage as well as heat radiation, thus aiding the ripening process. For winemakers, the ultimate goal is to always, always, always allow these varietals to ripen to their highest capabilities.

Lastly, Cabernet Sauvignon has high levels of tannin. Winemakers will tell you that these varietals excrete a sense of richness, liveliness. Yet this same emphatic taste tends to overwhelm one’s palette when paired with light, delicate foods.

Je ne sais quoi, the French say. “I don’t know what.”

A little black grape in Bordeaux says otherwise.

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Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Medalla Real Reserva Especial Single Estate

Winery:	Viña Santa Rita
Region:	Chile » Central Valley » Maipo Valley
Type:	Table Wines

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Cuban Style Marinated Steak

Lively citrus flavors and piquant seasonings combine to create this Cuban influenced marinade for steak. Read more »

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Premium Wine for Your Holiday Table

I taste a lot of California wine in any given year. There are so many impressive California wines out there, but this producer brought my understanding of wine’s possibilities to new heights in 2017. These wines bring new meanings to overused terms lik...

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Boston Winecadamey Explores Malbec v. Cab, Jesus' Favorites

Will Malbec's rise in popularity be enough to take down legendary champion Cabernet Sauvignon? The question will be answered in a small way in “Malbec vs. Cabernet Sauvignon Taste-Off”, a class offered from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 pm Jan. 28 at Boston Wine ...

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Mentor for Cabernet Sauvignon Wines

Craig Donofrio

Craig Donofrio is an Advanced Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers and has worked and consulted for some of the nation's top restaurants. He is chief food/wine photographer at Grapevine Studios (www.grapevinestudios.blogspot.com).

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Cabernet Sauvignon on Snooth

February 2018

Paul, hang in there. I'm still around, but my PC is going wonky, ... ... a 2013 Silverado Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, last night. 2013 is, of course, a highly regarded vintage year for Napa Valley, and, so, it, was a no brainer when I saw it at Costco a couple weeks ago.I have to say it was a pleasant wine, but not really earth shaking. ... Read More

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February 2018

Vigneto Montesodi Riserva Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Marchesi Frescobaldi 2009

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by martins2002
February 2018

Barlow Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga Napa Valley 2013

Snoothrank:

Dark plum, black currant aromas with a blackberry and dark chocolate note. In the mouth this is darkly brooding with full tannins, strong and firm and gripping with blackberry and black currant fruit, cinnamon and black pepper and a finish of coffee and tobacco. Read More

Wine review by Snooth Editorial
February 2018

Chateau le Fourneau 1990

Snoothrank:

I bought this bottle of wine from the website www.bidforwine.co.uk/auctions/show/124497 for £15.Saint Estephe is a Bordeaux appellation that was created in 1936 [although viticulture in the area goes back centuries] for red wines only from the single commune around the village of that name in the north of the Medoc peninsular.I have been unable ... Read More

Wine review by duncan 906
February 2018

These are the last 5 bottles of Aussie wine I received in the few weeks:A ... ... Shiraz/Cabby and the Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon and my current Crown jewel the 2013 Sir Henri Shira Read More

Forum post in the topic Aussie Wine in the US
February 2018

Domaines Barons de Rothschild Legende Pauillac 2014

Snoothrank:

Savory farm field and ripe black cherry aromas with blackberry preserves and olive tapenade on the nose. With its elegant and striking palate of bright cherry and cranberry fruit, nice warmth and bolstering acidity, this is approachable and firm in the mouth, with tart fruit layered in front of dark tannins and dark chocolate towards a smoky bro... Read More

Wine review by Snooth Editorial
February 2018

Domaines Barons de Rothschild Legende Medoc 2015

Snoothrank:

Mellow aromas of prune, earth and blackberry on the nose. Tart plum and black currant on the palate with loads of dusty, dry earth, light olive and dark chocolate with a finish of chewy tannins and earthy blackberry. Read More

Wine review by Snooth Editorial
February 2018

Retailers report, and empirical evidence demonstrates, that Valentine's Day ... Frog Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Ribet Red 2015We are sitting in La Table de Franck Putelat, a restaurant in Carcassonne tasting his wines. "Why Arrogant Frog?" I ask Owner-Winermaker Jean-Claude Mas, who replies, conspiratorially: "Because I'm Arrogant, and I'm Frenc... Read More

From the article Eleventh Hour Valentine's Day Wines
February 2018

Zavime, we did a Balkan Wine Party back in April 2017, but nobody brought a ... of the night was a Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah blend. I liked it so much I bought six more bottles from a local winery. &nbs Read More

Forum post in the topic Hello Snooth!
February 2018

We hosted another high-end wine dinner last night with our neighbors Rick & ... a 2016 Chardonnay and a 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon. First we opened a Lambrusco that I had in the fridge. Started off on the wrong foot as nobody really liked that sparkling wine. I ended up pouring out half of the bottle and it's a lesson learned about Lambrusco's ... Read More

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