15. Cabernet Sauvignon Flashcards
What climate is Cabernet Sauvignon grown in?
Moderate to warm
What level of acidity does Cab Sav have?
High acidity
What level of tannins does Cab Sav have?
High tannins
What are the five key differences between Merlot and Cab Sav?
Cab Sav - thicker skins (more colour and tannins)
Merlot - medium acidity, Cab Sav - high acidity
Merlot - medium tannins, Cab Sav - high tannins
Cab Sav needs a long and warm growing season to ripen fully
Merlot - red fruit dominant, Cab Sav - black fruit dominant
What flavours does Cab Sav usually exhibit?
Black fruit - blackcurrant, black cherry
Herbal - mint or Herbaceous - green pepper
Cooked fruit in warm climates
What flavours can bottle ageing a Cab Sav produce?
Dried fruits
Earth
Forest floor
What grapes is Cab Sav commonly blended with?
Merlot
What three things does Cab Sav add to a wine blend?
Help balance acidity (if too low)
Add tannins
Increased tannins and acidity mean the wine ages better and that oak use is more common
What is commonly done to Cab Sav to reduce harsh tannins?
Matured in oak barrels
How does oak maturation affect tannins?
Barrels are porous so oxygen gets into the wine. The oxygen binds to the tannins creating a sediment and decreasing tannins.
What secondary flavours does maturing a Cab Sav blend in oak often give?
Smoke
Vanilla
Cloves
What are key regions for Cab Sav?
6 countries, 18 regions
France - Bordeaux (Medoc, Haut Medoc, Pauillac, Graves, Margaux, Pessac-Leognan), South of France
California - Sonoma, Napa Valley (Oakville, Rutherford, Calistoga)
Chile - Central Valley (Maipo Valley, Colchagua Valley)
South Africa - Stellenbosch
Australia - Margaret River, Coonawarra
New Zealand - Hawke’s Bay
Where in Bordeaux is Cab Sav commonly found?
Left bank - Medoc, Haut-Medoc, Pauillac, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Margaux
Why is Cab Sav more common on the left bank of Bordeaux?
Gravel soils in this region help Cab Sav to ripen as they retain heat
If Cab Sav struggles to ripen in Bordeaux what might the wine maker do?
Add a higher proportion of Merlot
What is a Bordeaux blend?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
What is a Cru Bourgeois wine?
Wines from Medoc/Haut-Medoc that are not Grand Cru Classe but are still high quality
Where are the ripest, most full bodied Cab Sav’s found in Napa Valley?
Calistoga
What is a Cape Blend?
Cabernet Sauvignong
Merlot
Pinotage
What are some of characteristics of Cab Sav from California’s Central Valley and why?
Inexpensive wines
Oak flavours due to oak chips or staves
Hot and irrigated vineyards leading to high quantities
What are the conditions like within Maipo Valley and Colchagua Valley?
High quality wines
Located on foothills on Andes
Lower yields
Good aspect = more sun and better ripening
Slopes = poorer soil quality which natural controls yields
Where is Maipo Valley?
In Central Valley in Chile
Where is Colchagua Valley?
In Central Valley in Chile
What are the moderating factors in Margaret River?
Coastal breezes
