| Cabernet Sauvignon, one of wine's most | | | | and idiosyncratic. |
| aristocratic grape varieties, is responsible for | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon is not just grown in Bordeaux |
| many of the world's greatest reds, and is | | | | in France, it is in Bergerac and Buzet, and |
| regularly the primary grape variety in a number | | | | throughout the South West of the country. In |
| of the most expensive and sought after wines. | | | | recent years the wines from these lesser areas |
| Cabernet is famous for its distinctive aroma and | | | | have seen a serious challenge from New World |
| flavour, no matter where it's grown and how it's | | | | producers, who have adopted the grape and |
| produced. It's taste profile is recognisable whether | | | | made it their own (more of this later). |
| yields are allowed to ride high, or vinification is | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon is also used to much success |
| short. | | | | and fanfare in a number of the Super Tuscan |
| The grape is also well known not least for its | | | | wines of Italy. These are wines which often |
| tannic properties, but also the structure and body | | | | include non indiginous grapes, and thus originally fell |
| it gives to wines, as well as aromas of | | | | outside the Italian quality wine regime (the DOC |
| blackcurrants and cedarwood, and most famously | | | | system). Sassicaia is a well known label based on |
| cigar boxes in the red wines (Clarets) of | | | | the Cabernet Sauvignon grape with a lofty price |
| Bordeaux in France. | | | | tag. |
| Cabernet Sauvignon is a late ripening varietal that | | | | In Spain, famously Cabernet Sauvignon was the |
| needs a warmish climate. It produces distinctive | | | | principle grape variety in Gran Coronas Mas La |
| blue-ish grapes in the vineyard. It's also a small | | | | Plana, a wine made by the well known Penedes |
| berried wine with a high pip to pulp ratio (a major | | | | based Torres family. This was the winning wine in |
| factor in its tannin level). | | | | the iconic Judgement of Paris wine tasting in 1970, |
| So what makes it special? Many experts quote its | | | | where the Torres offering beat Chateau Latour in |
| unusually high concentration of phenolics as | | | | a blind wine tasting. |
| something that truly sets it apart - these are the | | | | In the New World Cabernet Sauvignon is perhaps |
| chemical compounds that are primarily responsible | | | | best known in California, where the Americans |
| for wine's colour pigment, tannins, and flavour | | | | plant it in some the world's most expensive |
| compounds. | | | | vineyards. Napa valley is the heart of Californian |
| The grape produces anything from medium to | | | | wine production, with famous names including |
| very full bodied wines, and is a ready traveller, but | | | | Opus One, a joint collaboration between the |
| it perhaps makes sense to consider it in the | | | | Rothschild family and Robert Mondavi, one of the |
| context of the aforementioned Bordeaux, a | | | | founding fathers of the Californian wine scene. |
| region many beleive to be the grape's spiritual | | | | The grape is also well known in Australia, where |
| home. | | | | producers such as Henschke coax amazing scents |
| Bordeaux owes more to Cabernet Sauvignon | | | | and flavours from the grape. Here the full fruit of |
| than any other varietal (with the possible | | | | the grape comes to the fore, with a multitude of |
| exception of its other key grape Merlot). The | | | | minty, chocolatey examples. In the red soils of |
| heartland of Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux is in | | | | Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly well |
| the Haut Medoc, where it is the principle grape in | | | | known. The Australian's, ever experimental, have |
| famous communes (or parishes) including St Julien, | | | | shown how successful this grape is when blended |
| St Estephe, Margaux and Pauillac. In the last | | | | with Shiraz (surprisingly perhaps producers in |
| commune lie the famous Chateaux of Mouton | | | | Provence in France also use this blend). |
| Rothschild and Latour (amongst others) both of | | | | The grape is also grown in Chile, Argentina, South |
| whom use Cabernet Sauvignon as the main grape | | | | Africa, New Zealand and throughout the New |
| in their red Grand Vins. Whether you agree with | | | | World. Interestingly, it's also big in China, and here |
| the prices of these estate's wines or not make | | | | is the country's single most popular grape variety |
| no mistake, when you taste their wines you | | | | (in 2004 the China had 450,000 hectares of |
| remember them. They are elegant, dry, intriguing | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon under vine). |