Cabernet Sauvignon (Cabernet sauvignon) is one of the world’s most famous red wine (technical) grape varieties. In this capacity it can compete unless its Bordeaux counterpart Merlot and Burgundy “antipode” of Pinot Noir.
DNA of Cabernet Sauvignon was profiled recently in 1997, and showed that it is the result of a natural crossing of key Bordeaux varieties: Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet franc. Most wine experts agree that the crossing happened not earlier than in the past few centuries, what makes the success of the Cabernet even more impressive.
Since its inception in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon successfully sold in almost all countries where there is wine.
Today it is a key variety in many first-class wine regions of the New world such as NAPA Valley (California), Coonawarra (Australia) and Maipo Valley (Chile).
Cabernet Sauvignon is equally successfully used as an independent sort, and in the composition of blends. In addition to such obvious companions as Merlot and Cabernet franc, it is often accompanied by Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carmenere (the family of so-called “Bordeaux blend”) and Tempranillo (in Spain and South Africa). Cabernet Sauvignon is increasingly used to soften the powerful wines from the varieties of tannat produced in the French appellation of Madiran.
There are two main reasons for the successful ascent of Cabernet Sauvignon to the top recognized international varieties.
The first and most obvious is a very good adaptability, vine Cabernet to various climatic conditions and soil types. It can be grown in a wide range of latitudes from 50 degrees North (Okanagan valley in Canada) and 20 degrees South (Northern Argentina), and on such different soils, as sand, Pessac-Leognan (Bordeaux) and the ferruginous terra rossa of the Australian region, Coonawarra.
The second but equally important reason for the success of the class is that, despite the diversity of conditions in which to grow the vine, wine from the Cabernet Sauvignon always has a recognizable character, while retaining the ability to reflect the nuances of terroir with skillful winemaking.
The visibility and ease of positioning of wines from the Cabernet make them the obvious choice for wineries, not prone to risky investments.
Strong vine Cabernet Sauvignon gives a fairly abundant harvest, and the berries on the vine are well closed by a dense canopy of leaves. This means that the performance of the vines is crucial to the position of winemaker, who can choose between quantity and quality. Although in an exceptional year, it is possible to obtain both.
Since Cabernet – late flowering and late-ripening variety, its berries ripen slowly. That can be like a advantage and a problem: in cold climates there is a risk of incomplete aging, but in most cases, sedate nature of the process gives winemakers flexibility in choosing the harvest time.
It is believed that best results from the Cabernet Sauvignon making in Bordeaux and California. As proof of this point can serve as the “Paris court 1976”
Over the last two decades there were many high-quality Cabernet from the New world. Its popularity contributes to the high cost of recognized wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, which can no longer afford a large mass of consumers. At the same time, this sort of penetrates into new territory with a strong wine tradition, such as Chianti and Carmignano (Italy). This is clear evidence of the recognition of the merits of this famous variety.
Popular blend with Cabernet Sauvignon:
“Bordeaux blend”, Cabernet Sauvignon–Merlot, Cabernet franc–Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon–Shiraz, Cabernet–Tempranillo, Chianti blend.
Based on Wine-Searcher