Cabernet Sauvignon Flashcards
Describe the Cabernet Sauvignon grape
Black grape variety with thick skin containing high level of colour, flavour and tannin.
What climates is Cabernet Sauvignon grown in?
Moderate and warm climates, might struggle to ripen in moderate climates depending on the weather in that vintage.
What are the PRIMARY characteristics of the wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon?
Describe:
Sweetness, acidity, tannin, body
What is the fruit and other PRIMARY flavours of the wine when: just ripe, very ripe?
Dry, high acidity, high tannin and medium or full in body.
Pronounced black fruit with herbal and herbaceous notes when just ripe.
Fully ripe will taste of cooked fruits with diminished herbaceous quality
What are the blending options of Cabernet Sauvignon? Is it present as a single varietal and / or in blends?
Does it see oak? Why?
Does this wine benefit from bottle aging? Why? What does this wine acquire from tertiary aging (3 notes)?
Single varietal wines and blended with Merlot or local varieties, depending
on where it is grown.
Oak maturation to soften tannins and add secondary characteristics
High tannins act as preservatives, along with concentration allows for extended bottle aging.
Tertiary notes from bottle aging include dried fruit, forest floor, earth.
Is Bordeaux generally warm enough to grow CS? What makes the Left Bank special?
Most of Bordeaux is too cool for CS.
Left Bank of the Garonne has gravel on topsoil allowing for water draining and heat absorption/emittance which warms the vines at night.
Name the 6 AOC of Bordeaux
Medoc
Haut-Medoc which includes Margaux and Pauillac
Graves which includes Passac-Leognan
What is the climate of Southern France like?
How ripe is the wine produced?
Do they produce single varietal and/or blends?
Warmer and dependable weather
fully ripened
Yes, both single-varietal and blends
Name the principle regions of CS in the US (not sub-regions)
Napa Valley, Sonoma, California
Name the principle sub-regions of Napa Valley where CS is grown.
Describe the climate of Napa Valley, where is warmest?
Oakville, Rutherford and Calistoga.
Warm, sunny and a long growing season, Calistoga has the warmest climate, producing the most ripe fruit
Describe the climate of the’California’ IG, what is the volume of production, what oak is used, are the wines ageworthy?
Hot, irrigated areas, high volume production,
some use of oak chips and staves.
Designed for immediate consumption
Can you blend other grapes into US wines labelled Cabernet Sauvignon?
Yes, in small quantities
Is CS the most widely planted grape in Chile?
Yes
Describe the Maipo and Colchagua Valleys
They both have a broad range of natural features and run east to west allowing for a wide range of sites.
Blending options in Chile? Are single varietal options present?
Single varietal is available, otherwise blended with Merlot of Carmenere.
What is the profile of wine from fruit grown in the foothills of the Andes in Chile? Will it see oak?
It is distinctive with black fruit, herbal and herbaceous and will see oak.
Describe Stellenbosch and its climate in one sentance
Stellenbosch is a somewhat mountainous region in South Africa with a warm to moderate climate depending on altitude
Describe Cabernet Sauvignon wine from Stellenbosch and explain what is a ‘Cape Blend’ is.
Produces a range of wines depending on the altitude from fresh and herbal to cooked fruit, full bodied and high alcohol.
Blends of CS, Merlot and Pinotage exist, called ‘Cape Blends’.
Describe Margaret River’s climate
A warm region moderated by sea breezes and winter rainfall
Describe blending options in Margaret River
Single varietal or with Merlot
Describe CS from Margaret River, how pronounced is the oak?
Ripe black fruit and subtle oak.
Describe the climate of Coonawarra
Coonawarra has a warm climate moderated by cloud cover and cold breezes from the south.
Describe the primary and secondary characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon wine from Coonawarra.
What is the quality?
Is it age worthy?
pronounced black current, distnctive herbal aromas, oak.
Typically very good to outstanding
will age for a long time
Describe the climate of Hawke’s Bay
Moderate climate, needs the warmest sites to ripen CS fully
What is Cabernet Sauvignon blended with in Hawke’s Bay? Why?
Common to see CS merlot blends as the weather could be too cold to ripen CS fully
What is the primary character of Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon wine?
Fresh red and black fruit flavour, herbaceous notes
