Cabernet Sauvignon (ca-ber-NAY SO-vee-nyohn)
Highly adaptable, globe-trotting Cabernet Sauvignon grows successfully around the world in various climates and soils, from its native Bordeaux, France, to California, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and even Lebanon. Wherever it grows, Cabernet Sauvignon retains its strong character. It may take on certain regional accents, such as cedar in Bordeaux or mint in Australia, but it still tends to taste like itself (unlike the malleable Chardonnay), making it better and more interesting when blended with other red grapes.
10 things you should know about Cabernet Sauvignon
1. Cabernet's home base is the "left bank" of the Gironde River in Bordeaux, where it is grown in the internationally famous appellations of Pauillac, St-Estèphe, Margaux, St-Julien, Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Pessac- Léognan and Graves.
2. Wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux are not labelled with the grape varietal name but rather the region's name. They are often blended with other grapes, such as Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
3. Cabernet Sauvignon almost always has a black currant aroma and flavour, no matter where the grapes were grown. High tannin levels in the skins make good Cabernets very cellar-worthy.
4. Cabernet Franc is acknowledged, along with the white grape Sauvignon Blanc, as the parent of the more famous Cabernet Sauvignon.
5. California has been successful in growing and marketing Cabernet Sauvignon wines, taking prizes over many top Bordeaux. Most are labelled by varietal, but some are blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the Bordeaux style. These wines are often called Meritage, a marketing term coined in California for specific blends.
6. Chile and Argentina offer well-made, less-expensive Cabernets, as well as high-quality, pricey choices.
7. Australian Cabs vary in style and are often blended with Shiraz. Rich and succulent, with ripe tannins, they demand red meat. The Coonawarra region has long been the go-to place for Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon.
8. South Africa produces many Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon blends, which are classy and full-bodied.
9. Look for Cabernets from eastern Europe, too. Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova offer some interesting and excellent-value examples.
10. Canadian examples of Cabernet Sauvignon abound, from restrained cooler-climate wines from Ontario to more full-bodied ones from British Columbia. Canadian Cabernets are normally sold under the varietal name, and they are often blended with Merlot or Cabernet Franc. Some blends are labelled Meritage.
