Cabernet Sauvignon (France)
Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine grape from Bordeaux in France.
It is the most planted grape in the world.
Typical Flavors
 Black Currant |
 Blackberry |
 Black Cherry |
 Plum |
 Olive Oil |
 Bell Pepper |
 Pepper |
 Licorice |
Oak Added Flavors:
 Oak |
 Vanilla |
 Toast |
 Tobacco |
Dark Berries, Plum, and Green Bell Pepper are typical Cabernet Sauvignon flavors.
With hints of Licorice and Anise.
Profile
Cabernet Sauvignon wines tend to be full bodied with high tannins:
| BODY | Full | ||
| TANNINS | High | ||
| FRUIT | Medium - High | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Mushroom |
 Hamburger |
 Ham |
 Casseroles |
 Pork |
 Lamb |
 Veal |
 Beef |
Rich Flavors and Tannins make Cabernet Sauvignon a perfect partner to Flavory Food.
Cabernet Sauvignon loves Roasted Lamb and BBQ.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
BBQ. Grilled. Roasts.
Roasted Potatoes and Onions.
Grilled Mushrooms (Portobello).
Grilled Veggetables.
Rich Casseroles. Beef Stew.
BBQ. Chicken. Pork. Rabbit.
Roasted Lamb. Lamb Chops. Lamb Shank.
Hamburger. Cheese Burger. Bacon Burger.
Red Meat Dishes. Spareribs. Veal Chops.
Strip Steak. T-Bone. Kobe. Entrecôte.
Filet Mignon. Filetto (Italy). Solomillo (Spain).
Cheese:
Aged Cheese. Goat. Cheddar. Gouda. Pecorino.
Blue. Camembert.
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The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for medium to full bodied red wines.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the fruit bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
About Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most planted red wine grape.
The name comes from its parents: Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
The grape was born in Bordeaux, in the South West of France, where the climate is "maritime", with hot summers and mild winters.
Today, Cabernet Sauvignon is most famous for its role in the balanced, complex, and famous Bordaux blend.
Cabernet Sauvignon has ripens late and is a thick-skinned grape. Thick skin means that the color of the wine is dark and that the wines are usually vinified as full bodied. Thick skin means also high tannins and great aging potential.
Bordeaux Wine Region
Bordeaux in Southwest France is the most famous wine region in the world.
The river Gironde splits the area in the famous Left Bank (Southwest) and the Right Bank (Northeast) where the two famous, but very different, Bordeaux Blends are produced.
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
Right Bank
Bordeaux is dominated by red wine. Nearly 90% of all Bordeaux wine is red.
The most planted grape is Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon.
Red Grapes
66% Merlot
23% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Cabernet Franc
2% Malbec
1% Petit Verdot
White Grapes
47% Sémillon
45% Sauvignon Blanc
5% Muscadelle
Bordeaux Blanc
Bordeaux Blanc
Pessac Léognan
Entre-Deux-Mers
Sémillon
Sweet Wines
Sauternes (Sweet)
Sparkling
Bordeaux Left Bank
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
A typical top-quality "Bordeaux Blend" consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot.
Left Bank wines are often spicy with bold tannins and are good candidates for aging.
The terroir is rocky, with gravel (stones) and some limestone.
In the wine world, this bad soil means good wine because the more the roots have to struggle, the better the quality. Rocky soils and hillsides give a good drainage (too much water gives a watery berry).
Famous appellations are:
- Haut-Médoc
- Margaux (Château Margaux)
- St.Estephe
- St.Julien
- Pauillac (Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Latour)
- Pessac Leognan (Château Haut-Brion)
Flavors:
Young: Spices. Earth. Tobacco.
Aged: Leather. Smoke. Truffle. Herbs. Cigar box.
Bordeaux Right Bank
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
A typical Right Bank blend consists of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style.
The terroir on the right bank is less difficult, with less gravel and more clay and limestone.
Famous appellations are:
- St. Emilion (Cheval Blanc)
- Pomerol (Petrus)
Flavors:
Young: Black Cherry. Red Plum. Flowers. Chocolate. Licorice.
Aged: Earth. Truffle. Dark Chocolate. Tobacco.
White Bordeaux
White Bordeaux uses Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion as primary grapes.