Here’s the Vinalogy…
You can generally presume that all professional rugby players have certain elements in common: they are full-bodied, fairly heavy and particularly well-structured. There are forwards who pack a slightly bigger punch and backs who are a tad more refined and lean, but generally speaking, you can always tell a rugby player a mile off, no matter where in the team they play. It’s the obvious build and all those purpley-black bruises that do it! And with all their years of training and experience, you can take a bet that their playing quality (high quality)is going to be pretty reliable, no matter which country it is that they play for. They also tend to need a few years to mellow and behave…
Cabernet Sauvignon is the pro rugby player of wine grapes. This heavy-duty variety has the thickest skin of just about all the famous grapes, giving it lots of tooth-drying tannin and plenty of cedar-tree brawn! It’s hardy, well-structured and makes pretty reliable wine just about anywhere nowadays. When at its best, it can take a few years to mature and soften, so bear that in mind when you’re picking one out. Cabernet will give you a concentrated, dark blue-black colour with distinctive, spicy blackcurrant and cedar flavours. In some cases, you’ll also spot a telltale minty or eucalyptus note, which is often a hint that it’s from a warmer climate.
Geek Fact! Cabernet Sauvignon’s parents are the red, much less ballsy Cabernet Franc and the white grape Sauvignon Blanc, hence the name Cabernet Sauvignon. Who knew a white grape and a lean-figured old professor could create such strapping offspring, but they did!
CABERNET SAUVIGNON SIPS SAFARI
Try these three key styles to get the measure of this grape:
Cabernet Sauvignon 1: Bordeaux, France
Head straight to Bordeaux, France, the home of Cabernet, where it’s usually blended with some Merlot among other graoe. Look to the Left Bank of the river Gironde and the villages of Pauillac, Saint Julien, Margaux and Saint-Estèphe for classic earthy, cedary wines that are blends but they’re Cabernet dominant.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2: Coonawarra, Australia
Compare your Bordeaux with a New World Cabernet from Coonawarra in Australia for a fuller-bodied, less tannic and juicier version with tonnes of blackcurrant and a characteristic minty twang. These are your ‘rugby forward’ wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon 3: Napa Valley, California
At a typically hefty price tag, try some serious, concentrated Cabs from Napa Valley, California for big wines made in a Bordeaux style with a pleasing, extra dab of ripe fruit.
Also Try:
You can find Cabernet Sauvignon all over the world now made in both super premium styles as well as more accessible versions. Special mentions go to South Africa, Argentina and Chile as well as Washington State who produce great Cabernets at all points of the quality and price spectrum.
Want some actual suggestions from these places and beyond? Take a look here for an up-to-date list of wines to try.
