Cabernet Sauvignon - King of the Grapes!

There are more than thousands of wine grape varieties in the world; however, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys the fame the most. It is a known fact; this dynamic grape had redefined the modern-day wine approach. It is time we fall in love with this grape once more…..

Did you know Cabernet Sauvignon is not the oldest grape?

One fine day, Professor Carole Meredith from the University of California at Davis was searching for the origins of an American red grape Zinfandel. She came across the love relationship between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, which led to their child ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’. A chance crossing of these two grape varieties in south-western France in the 17th century resulted in the birth of Cabernet Sauvignon. The grape variety takes the body, the fruit, the toughness from the father “Cabernet Franc” and the finesse, the structure, the acidity from the mother “Sauvignon Blanc”

@Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Bunches.

Cabernet Sauvignon took the best from both the worlds. Professor Meredith also established Cabernet Sauvignon to be less than 600 years old, a relative newcomer in the wine grape world. The oldest recorded reference to Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the 18th Century and Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Baron de Brane ripped up the white varieties and planted a red variety called Vidure. Vidure comes from the French words Vigne Dure or hardy vine in reference to the tough nature of Cabernet Sauvignon. The name is still used by the traditional winemakers in Bordeaux especially in Medoc and Graves.

The massive spread of Cabernet Sauvignon came in the 1800s when it was used to replant the phylloxera ravaged vineyards of Europe. Interestingly in 1990, it was the 8th most planted wine grape in the world. It ran so successfully that within only 20 years ie 2010, it flew up to be the world’s most popular grape variety. There are over 300,000 hectares of the grape planted all over the world. That is more than 741,300 acres!

Although the birthplace is France, this Hero has shown glorified colours in USA, Australia and many other countries. It is also considered as the King of Napa. As a matter of fact, in 1976, the production of Cabernet Sauvignon increased in Napa Valley beating the top Chateaux of Bordeaux in the blind taste test in the “1976 Judgement of Paris”. From there the California Cabernet Sauvignon was launched, and people at steakhouses around the world started to order the wine. From its hallowed home in France’s Bordeaux to Lebanon, California, New Zealand and Australia, Cabernet beguiles wine drinkers all over the planet with its distinctive curves and characteristics, its grippy sky-high tannins and conspicuous acidity.

California King

Napa enjoys its pride the most. Their Cabernets have the balance of body and sophistication. They boast powerful 15% ABV and are more intense fruit-forward expression such as dark cassis, plum, liquorice, savoury baking spices, mocha and smokey tobacco notes derived from extended American barrel ageing. Some famous AVAs showing true power and finesse of Cab are Stags Leap District, Oakville, Diamond Mountain, St. Helena and many more. The wines scream power and enjoy decanting.

@Napa Valley Vineyards.

Italian Mafia

Cabernet Sauvignon may not be famous on this land, but don’t forget the underworld of Super Tuscan. Many Super Tuscan's enjoy Cabernet’s presence as it offers intense flavours to the wine. Tignanello was the first Super Tuscan 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Super Tuscans are in high demand. These wines display the rustic charm of Italians, rich in plum fruit, cherry, tomato, herbal notes with pleasant hints of bay leaf, sage, olive tapenade, cola and liquorice. Today many other Super Tuscan's include Cabernet as an essential part of their composition.

@Marchesi Antinori, Tignanello, Toscana IGT.

Australian Power

Australia is no alien to the power of this grape. The wine can be found in most parts of the continent, however, the famous ones come from the southern part like McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, also Margaret River. The wine offered here is dense, dark with notes of chocolate, dried herbs, cider, blackberries, dark cherries, forest floor, grainy tannins and more. Many a time French Oak is used, making the wines full-bodied like Bordeaux, however in generality Australian Cabernets are less robust than Napa. No Australian Cabernet story ever can be complete without mentioning the world-famous “Penfolds Bin 707” from the Volcanic Soil of Coonawarra. This wine is defined as Heaven.

@Penfolds BIN 707, Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia.

Flavour

Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with other varieties to soften it. Adding Merlot or Cabernet Franc fills in the middle palate and gives a delicate fruity finish. Adding Shiraz gives a wonderful full-bodied wine with lots of red berry flavours and spicy black pepper at the back of the palate. Sangiovese is often added in Tuscany to produce a unique blend and some Malbec and Petite Verdot seem to regularly crop up as blends. The trend is turning back towards more straight Cabernet Sauvignon's. The blends are easier to drink and quicker to mature than a straight Cabernet Sauvignon, but they lack the complexity that a good Cabernet Sauvignon has on its own.

Cabernet Sauvignon’s best friend is oak. Lots of tannins and often high alcohol contents react well with the caress of wood. Traditionally, expect full-bodied wine of 13.5-15% ABV, with some serious tannins. It enjoys warm to cool climate, dry regions that allow long, slow ripening for excellent aroma and fruit flavour.

Pairing

Because the wine has ample acidity, body and tannins it enjoys the company of food and is not preferred by its own. The best match for it is red meat cooked well and rich- keeping the spice level in check. Besides beef, game, venison, pork it may also be enjoyed with mushrooms, aubergine/eggplant and beetroot. A great accompaniment with matured and aged Cheddar and other hard cheeses like Gruyere.

Other names that Cabernet Sauvignon has been or is known by include: Petit Cabernet, Petit Vidure and Vidure, and in Italy, Uva Francese.

Cabernet Sauvignon being a international superstar has found home in Indian vineyards as well and quite a few Indian wineries are developing this grape and are making world class wines.

Here's a list of a few Indian Cabernet Sauvignon's to look out for:

• KRSMA, Cabernet Sauvignon, Hampi Hills, Karnataka.
• Sette, Fratelli Wines, Akluj, Solapur, Maharashtra.
• Sula, Rasa Cabernet Sauvignon, Nashik, Maharashtra.
• York Arros, Nashik, Maharashtra
• Reveilo, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Nashik, Maharashtra.

Life is all about Cabernet…

Article by - Kriti Malhotra, Certified Sommelier.