Taste of the Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon, A Noble Wine

Cabernet Savignon is nice when it is drunk as a young wine. But the most expensive and well made of these wines tend to need a few years of aging in order to openly display their finest qualities – multiple layers of fruit flavors and a smooth but firm tannic structure. Still, typical tasting comments on young Cabernets usually praise the black current, bell pepper, chocolate, and spice flavors. With its forthright fruit flavors, Cabernet Sauvignon benefits from contact with new oak, which lends balance and further complexity.

There are several exquisite versions of Cabernet Sauvignon from California, particularly from the Napa Valley, that are not blended with other grapes.

As a blending grape, Cabernet Sauvignon successfully shares a bottle with Shiraz in wines from Australia, and with Sangiovese in “super-Tuscan” wines from Italy. In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is usually blended with a combination of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petite Verdot.

Cabernet Savignon is a truly international wine. In any wine shop, one might find varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, Australia, California, Italy, Spain or France.

Expensive as great Cabernet Sauvignon can be, the bargains are out there. Look for varietal wines form the south of France and also from Chile.

The finest and most sought after versions of Cabernet Sauvignon come from several different countries. There are a handful of ultra expensive, reserve Cabernet Sauvignons and Meritage wines from Napa Valley, California: Heitz Celler “Martha’s Vineyard”, Opus One, Stag’s Leap “Cask23”. From Penfold’s in Australia comes the noteworthy Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707.

One should not be surprised, that it is in the Bordeaux sub regions that the most elegant, age worthy, and expensive Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines are produced. Two of the top rated Bordeaux Châteaux - Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Latour; rely on Cabernet Sauvignon for 70 percent of their blends. These and other highly rated Bordeaux Châteaux produce wines that can age well for many decades and command hundreds of dollars for a bottle from a great year.

The assertive flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon, young or old, match nicely with lamb, beef and other red meat dishes. Young Cabernet Sauvignon is especially well paired with meats from the grill because the youthful fruit flavors are a perfect counterpoint to the pleasantly bitter scorching imparted by the open fire.

So what does Cabernet Sauvignon do for an encore? Some of the finest rosé wines in the world are made from this wonder grape.

About the Author:  Scott Harker is the publisher of several websites including: Sherlock Holmes Pastiches, Golf Tricks Blog, Olivia de Berardinis, Dieting Help | Move More - Eat Less, and On The Hook | Fishing Supplies.

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About the Author:  Scott Harker is the publisher of several websites including: Sherlock Holmes Pastiches, Harvest The Sun | Renewable Energy, Grilled To Perfection - Barbecue, In The Trade | Stocks & Binds, and On The Hook | Fishing Supplies.