Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 1

Describe the Cabernet Sauvignon grape

Answer 1

Black grape variety with thick skin containing high level of colour, flavour and tannin.

Question 2

What climates is Cabernet Sauvignon grown in?

Answer 2

Moderate and warm climates, might struggle to ripen in moderate climates depending on the weather in that vintage.

Question 3

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?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

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)?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Is Bordeaux generally warm enough to grow CS? What makes the Left Bank special?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Name the 6 AOC of Bordeaux

Answer 6

Medoc

Haut-Medoc which includes Margaux and Pauillac

Graves which includes Passac-Leognan

Question 7

What is the climate of Southern France like?

How ripe is the wine produced?

Do they produce single varietal and/or blends?

Answer 7

Warmer and dependable weather

fully ripened

Yes, both single-varietal and blends

Question 8

Name the principle regions of CS in the US (not sub-regions)

Answer 8

Napa Valley, Sonoma, California

Question 9

Name the principle sub-regions of Napa Valley where CS is grown.

Describe the climate of Napa Valley, where is warmest?

Answer 9

Oakville, Rutherford and Calistoga.

Warm, sunny and a long growing season, Calistoga has the warmest climate, producing the most ripe fruit

Question 10

Describe the climate of the’California’ IG, what is the volume of production, what oak is used, are the wines ageworthy?

Answer 10

Hot, irrigated areas, high volume production,

some use of oak chips and staves.

Designed for immediate consumption

Question 11

Can you blend other grapes into US wines labelled Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 11

Yes, in small quantities

Question 12

Is CS the most widely planted grape in Chile?

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

Describe the Maipo and Colchagua Valleys

Answer 13

They both have a broad range of natural features and run east to west allowing for a wide range of sites.

Question 14

Blending options in Chile? Are single varietal options present?

Answer 14

Single varietal is available, otherwise blended with Merlot of Carmenere.

Question 15

What is the profile of wine from fruit grown in the foothills of the Andes in Chile? Will it see oak?

Answer 15

It is distinctive with black fruit, herbal and herbaceous and will see oak.

Question 16

Describe Stellenbosch and its climate in one sentance

Answer 16

Stellenbosch is a somewhat mountainous region in South Africa with a warm to moderate climate depending on altitude

Question 17

Describe Cabernet Sauvignon wine from Stellenbosch and explain what is a ‘Cape Blend’ is.

Answer 17

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’.

Question 18

Describe Margaret River’s climate

Answer 18

A warm region moderated by sea breezes and winter rainfall

Question 19

Describe blending options in Margaret River

Answer 19

Single varietal or with Merlot

Question 20

Describe CS from Margaret River, how pronounced is the oak?

Answer 20

Ripe black fruit and subtle oak.

Question 21

Describe the climate of Coonawarra

Answer 21

Coonawarra has a warm climate moderated by cloud cover and cold breezes from the south.

Question 22

Describe the primary and secondary characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon wine from Coonawarra.

What is the quality?

Is it age worthy?

Answer 22

pronounced black current, distnctive herbal aromas, oak.

Typically very good to outstanding

will age for a long time

Question 23

Describe the climate of Hawke’s Bay

Answer 23

Moderate climate, needs the warmest sites to ripen CS fully

Question 24

What is Cabernet Sauvignon blended with in Hawke’s Bay? Why?

Answer 24

Common to see CS merlot blends as the weather could be too cold to ripen CS fully

Question 25

What is the primary character of Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon wine?

Answer 25

Fresh red and black fruit flavour, herbaceous notes