Cabernet Sauvignon: A Monster?

[Kevin]

I'm heading back to Napa in April. I cannot wait! I'm taking another class at the Culinary Institute of America. Napa Valley's best produced and most popular grape is Cabernet Sauvignon. It is my favorite red wine. Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety of red grape mainly used for wine production, and is, along with Merlot, one of the most widely-planted of the world's grape varietals.

The particularly thick skin of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape results in wines that can be high in tannin which provides both structure and age worthyness. This wine, while frequently aromatic and with an attractive finish, also tends to lack mid-palate richness and so is often blended with lower tannin, but "fleshy" tasting grapes, particularly Merlot and, especially in Australia, Shriaz. Cabernet Franc is often used in blends with Cabernet Sauvignon to add more fruitiness. As a group, Cabernet Sauvignon wines are generally full-flavored, with a stronger flavor than Merlot for instance, and with a smooth and lingering "finish".

The main grape in most left bank Bordeaux wines, Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in most of the world's wine regions (except the very coldest), although it requires a long growing season to ripen properly and gives low yields. Many of the red wines regarded as among the world's greatest, such as red Bordeaux, are predominantly made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Red Bordeaux wines are powerful without being overwhelming. In its youth, a great Bordeaux is like an untamed lion. World-class examples can improve for decades and remain drinkable for a century.

I recently went to a Bordeaux tasting in Chicago that featured wines from the 2005 vintage. 2005 is a great vintage in Bordeaux. There were many unbelievable wines, and I feel really lucky that I got to taste these wines. Unfortunately, many Bordeaux from 2005 cost 30 to 40 percent more than the 2004 vintage. If you were married or had a child in 2005, you should strongly consider purchasing a 2005 Bordeaux.

Cabernet is grown around the world. There are wonderful values coming from South America and Washington State. There are vineyards in Chile and Argentina on mountain sides that are 5,000 feat above sea level. Those vineyards see a lot of sunlight. Look for Concha y Toro, Los Vascos and Catena from South America.
What do you pair with Cab? I know what I pair with it. Meat and potatoes. A medium rare ribeye will cut the tannins of a young Cabernet. It's a standard food and wine pairing. I've found that rosemary and Cab work well together.

[alena824]

When I was introduced to wines, I was told that you could not go wrong with Cabs, and while I was more partial to whites, I've learned to appreciate it.