Cabernet Sauvignon: Finally I Like One!

The first thing to know about Cabernet Sauvignon (hereafter fondly referred to as “Cab”), is that it is a Bordeaux grape.  The grape was actually invented by a vintner who crossed Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.  It is a hearty red grape that is fairly flexible about where it will grow and thrive.  It takes on the flavor of the region it was grown in (terroire) and is very tannic because of the large grape seeds.  It is typically grown in Australia, Chile, South Africa, Spain, California, and France.  Cabs do not all taste the same, as evidenced below.

Fiancetto Gravello Loam 2009, Napa Valley, California – this wine was grown in gravelly soil, and the heat retention and distribution that came from the gravel affected the sugar content and alcohol level of this wine.  It is a fairly heavy-bodied wine with red fruit and vanilla smells.  It had a moderate level of alcohol, and had tastes of vanilla, vegetable, plum, and blackberry. 

Los Nevados 2010, Mendoza Argentina – this wine is a blend of cab grapes, and 30% of it was aged for four months in American oak.  Usually cabs are oaked with French oak because the flavor is different, however sometimes New World vintners mix things up a little, to appease different tastes.  This wine had an earthy, vanilla smell with dark fruit overtones, especially cherry.  The taste, however, was tangy, earthy, and tannic – and not very fruity at all.  It has a moderate level of alcohol.

Chono 2009 Maipo Valley, Chile – Chile has a long coastal area, and produces many full-bodied wines.  This cab had a cassis, earthy, and green pepper smells but a smoky flavor.  The tannins were softer in this wine but it didn’t have much fruit flavor that we usually expect from New World wineries.

Marion 2006 Veneto, Italy – a key point about this wine is that it was made in the Amarone style.  In that style, the grapes are partially dried to concentrate the sugars and then are fermented.  It was also oaked for two years, softening its edge.  This wine had a slightly funky smell that turns to vanilla and red fruit on the second sniff.  This wine was smooth on the palate and the tannins are much softer.  The wine had a red fruit taste, including cherries, with raisin at the end.  A delicious wine, it is worth the expense for a treat.

This was the second article on varietals and comparing the same varietal from different wineries, side-by-side.  Varietal tastings will teach you that you probably have a style preference and not so much a varietal preference.  Give it a try!