October 18, 2004

Cabernet Sauvignon

Pronounced [cab-er-NAY SO- vin-yon]

Most of the wine I drink is not at dinner paired with the perfect food, it is in front of the computer as I wind down for the evening. At these times, my favorites are usually a good Pinot Noir, Petite Syrah, or Cab Sauv. Something bold and with a bit of character.

From the International Wine of the Month Club

The undisputed king of red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon is a remarkably steady and consistent performer through much of the world. While it grows well in many countries, in specific appellations it is capable of rendering wines of uncommon depth, richness, concentration and longevity. Bordeaux has used the grape consistently since the 18th century, always blending it with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and sometimes a soupcon of Petite Verdot and Malbec. The Bordeaux model is built around not only the desire to craft complex wines, but also the need to ensure that different grape varieties ripen at different intervals and to give lesser wines color, tannin, or backbone. Cabernet Sauvignon's classic flavors are blackberry, currant, plum, black cherry and spice. It can also be marked by herb, olive, mint, tobacco, cedar and anise as well as ripe, jammy notes. In warmer areas, it can be supple and elegant; in cooler areas, it can be marked by pronounced vegetal, bell pepper, oregano and tar flavors (a late ripener, it can not always be relied upon in cool areas, which is why Germany, for example, has never succumbed to the lure). It can also be very tannic, which is why it produces many of the world's longest lived wines. The best Cabernets always start out dark ruby or purple in color, with firm acidity, a full body, great intensity, concentrated flavors, and firm tannins.

From WikiPedia

Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety of grape mainly used for wine production. Caber net Sauvignon varietals are one of the most popular styles of red table wine. Cabernet Sauvignon is the principal grape in many Bordeaux wines and is grown in most of the world's other major wine regions, although it requires a long growing season to ripen properly. For better or worse, most wines regarded as the world's greatest come from Cabernet Sauvignon, and world class examples can improve for decades, and remain drinkable for a century. Cabernet sauvignon grapes are high in tannin and are often blended with lower tannin grapes, particularly Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Shiraz / Syrah. As a group Cabernet Sauvignon wines are generally full-flavoured, with a stronger flavour than Merlot for instance, with a smooth "finish" that lacks the "peppery" bite of Shiraz / Syrah. One of the most characteristic aromas is cassis. There is, however, a great deal of variation in flavor depending on the region, winemaking technique, seasonal weather, and bottle age. Cabernet Sauvignon is species Vitis vinifera, and recent genetic testing indicates that it is the result of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.

Posted by Michael at 04:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack