C is for Cabernet

Cabernet Sauvignon was recently overtaken as the world's most prolific grape by Kyoho, a Chinese variety - given some of the plantings in China, this is hardly surprising. It has cast a long shadow over the wine world for a long time. Despite this long period of dominance, it's popularity has never waned, indeed it's only grown. Spiritually, it's home is in France, specifically the left Bank of Bordeaux, though it is now outgunned by the Right Bank darling Merlot. It will be found elsewhere in France but curiously it's rarely bottled varietally - it's mostly blends. It can be found in Italy in the Super Tuscan wines of Bolgheri, while in Spain it has died off over the years in favour of indigenous varieties. In the New World it is very popular, Napa Valley in the States and Margaret River in Western Australia produce their own neo-classical styles with great aplomb. South Africa are now producing great examples. It makes up a lot of Chile's production, but this is essentially bulk production.

"...spiritually, its home is in France, specifically the Left Bank of Bordeaux..."

Cabernet Sauvignon is synonymous with tannins. What are tannins? They are a phenolic compound found in red wine that produces an astringent, drying sensation in the wine. The experience of tannins in red wine are similar to that when you drink very strong black tea - the dryness is felt most keenly on the gums and teeth. Firm tannins mean firm wines and age-worthy wines (partly because the tannins act as a preservative) and oak ageing augments it all. As the wine ages, these chains of tannin molecules join together, making the wine smoother on the palate over time. Astringent, tannic wines can be smoothened slightly before maturity by decanting, double decanting, aerating, pouring into a big glass and allowing to stand, or, as we often joke: hyper-decanting (putting it in a blender - do not actually try this!!).

Cabernet Sauvignon errs very heavily on the black fruit spectrum, with primary notes and flavours blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry being most prominent. There is often a strong perception of cedar, particularly is there's oak, and there can often be leather, tobacco, coffee, and spice. The Bordeaux based, classical persuasion are very much this way inclined, but it's actually quite rare that the variety is not blended with any of a number of co-stars, indeed, I'm not aware of ANY growth wines that are 100% Cabernet. In the new world, they are prolific in number,  as the extra sunshine just seems to take the very astringent edge off.

Any questions, just holler.
Rory