Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 1

In what climate does Cabernet Sauvignon prefer to grow?

Answer 1

• Moderate (Cab prefers the warmest sites within moderate climates)
• Warm

Question 2

Why does Cabernet Sauvignon need a warmer climate, or the warmest of sites in moderate climates, to fully ripen?

Answer 2

It has thick skins and higher levels of flavors and tannins that need to develop.

Question 3

From where does Cabernet Sauvignon originate?

Answer 3

Southwest France

Question 4

Describe the general profile of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Answer 4

• Dry
• Medium to full body
• High acidity
• High tannins
• Black fruits (plums, currants)
• Herbaceous (green pepper)
• Herbal (mint)

In very warm/hot climates, Cabernet Sauvignon can show cooked-fruit flavors.

Question 5

What characteristics about Cabernet Sauvignon make it age worthy?

Answer 5

• High acidity
• High tannins

Both structural components behave as natural preservatives.

Question 6

Why is Cabernet Sauvignon usually blended with Merlot?

Answer 6

• Merlot softens the hard edges (high acid, high tannin) of Cabernet Sauvignon, especially if the Cab is from a cooler site/moderate climate and struggled to ripen.
• Merlot also adds red fruit flavors to the black fruitedness of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Conversely, Cabernet Sauvignon will add structure and black fruits to a plush, soft, red-fruited Merlot.

Question 7

Why is Cabernet Sauvignon so often barrel fermented/aged?

Answer 7

• Cabernet Sauvignon has the capability to age in oak for years due to its sturdy structure (high acid, high tannin);
• Oxygen exchange in the barrel helps soften tannins and is overall beneficial to Cab;
• Oak aging imparts pleasant flavors to Cabernet Sauvignon, e.g. clove, vanilla, mocha.

Question 8

What kind of tertiary aromas and flavors does oak-aged Cabernet Sauvignon include?

Answer 8

• Dried fruits
• Earth/mushrooms
• Wet leaves/forest floor

Question 9

Fill in the blank:

France’s most important region for Cabernet Sauvignon is _____.

Answer 9

Bordeaux

Question 10

Which Bank in Bordeaux typically has a higher ratio of Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot in the blends?

Answer 10

Left Bank

Question 11

What feature about Bordeaux’s soils helps Cabernet Sauvigon to ripen in this moderate climate?

Answer 11

Bordeaux has gravelly soils, which do 2 things:
1. Drain easily so vines’ feet don’t stay cool and damp
2. Retain warmth from the sun and redistribute that warmth overnight

Question 12

What are the 6 AOCs to know for Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends in Bordeaux?

Answer 12

• Médoc AOC
• Haut-Médoc AOC (area w/in Médoc)
• Margaux AOC (small area w/in Haut-Médoc)
• Pauillac AOC (small area w/in Haut-Médoc)
• Graves AOC
• Pessac-Léognan AOC (small area w/in Graves)

Question 13

Fill in the blank:

All the grapes in Bordeaux don’t necessarily fully ripen every year, so _____ grapes that have different ripening times and different flavors helps the Bordelaise ensure that they will have something to bottle every year.

Answer 13

blending

Bordeaux’s moderate climate, and its proximity to the Atlantic, make vintage variation a real issue.

Question 14

What does the term “Château” indicate on a bottle of Bordeaux?

Answer 14

That the grapes used to make the wine in that bottle were grown on the producer’s own land (they were not purchased grapes).

Question 15

What term can Châteaux use on their label if the estate has been classified as one of the best in Bordeaux?

Answer 15

Grand Cru Classé or Cru Classé

Question 16

Q
Fill in the blank:

A wine from the Médoc AOC that hasn’t been classified as one of Bordeaux’s best estates can apply to use a different term called _____.

Answer 16

Cru Bourgeois

Cru Bourgeois wines won’t be as expensive or as long-lived as the classified estates’ wines

Question 17

Where else in France besides Bordeaux is Cabernet Sauvignon planted?

(hint: it also grows well there.)

Answer 17

The South of France

When grown in the South of France, Cabernet Sauvignon has no trouble ripening. It is usually blended with Merlot, Grenache, and Syrah.

Question 18

In the U.S., which state produces good- to exceptional-quality Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 18

California

Question 19

Which 2 regions in California are best known for their Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 19

1. Napa Valley
2. Sonoma

Question 20

What is the climate of Napa Valley?

Answer 20

Warm with a long growing season.

Question 21

Which 3 Napa Valley subregions are well known for their Cabernet Sauvignons and which one is the warmest?

Answer 21

1. Oakville
2. Rutherford
3. Calistoga (warmest)

Question 22

Compare the style of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to the style of Left Bank Bordeaux.

Answer 22

Napa Valley
- Dry
- Full body
- High alcohol
- High tannin
- Medium to high acidty
- Ripe, juicy black fruit flavors

Left Bank Bordeaux
- Dry
- Medium to full body
- Medium to high alcohol
- High tannin
- High acidity
- Just-ripe black fruit flavors
- More herbaceous

Question 23

If a Cabernet Sauvignon just has the appellation “California” on the label, where are the grapes allowed to come from?

Answer 23

All over California

However, most of it is grown for bulk wine in California’s hot Central Valley.

This style of Cab often sees some oak influence from oak chips or staves.

Question 24

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted variety in which South American country?

Answer 24

Chile

Question 25

Which appellations in Chile are you most likely to find Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 25

Central Valley and its 2 subregions Maipo Valley and Colchagua Valley.

Question 26

Fill in the blank:

Both Maipo Valley and Colchagua Valley run _____ to _____.

Answer 26

east, west

This benefits winegrowers by giving them a vast number of sites from which to select grapes, e.g. higher elevation and lower elevation, and warmer sites and cooler sites.

Question 27

In Chile, Cabernet Sauvignon is usually blended with which 2 grapes?

Answer 27

1. Merlot
2. Carmenère

Question 28

Which region in South Africa is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 28

Stellenbosch

Question 29

What are the features of Stellenbosch that allow it to make varying styles of Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 29

• It’s mountainous/has varying elevation
• Moderate to warm climate

Cabs from Stellenbosch can be herbal, medium-bodied, and red fruited to full-throttle, high alcohol, and cooked black fruit flavors.

Question 30

What are the grapes in Cape Blend?

Answer 30

• Pinotage
• Merlot
• Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 31

Which 2 areas in Australia are well known for their high quality Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 31

1. Coonawarra (South Australia)
2. Margaret River (Western Australia)

Question 32

What weather features of Margaret River help this warm region maintain freshness in its Cabernets?

Answer 32

• Ocean breezes
• Ample rainfall over winter

Question 33

What are the weather features in Coonawarra that help it produce outstanding-quality Cabernets?

Answer 33

• Frequent cloud cover
• Cool southerly breezes

Question 34

What flavor characteristics do Australian Cabernets usually have that makes them distinct from Cabernets grown outside Australia?

Answer 34

distinctive herbal notes with mint and eucalyptus flavors.

Question 35

Which area in New Zealand is known for making high quality Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 35

Hawke’s Bay

Question 36

Where do farmers have to plant their Cabernet Sauvignon vines in Hawke’s Bay, NZ to ensure the grapes ripen?

Answer 36

In the warmest possible sites.

Because Hawke’s Bay has a moderate climate like Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is usually blended with Merlot.