Cabernet Sauvignon: Pairs Well with an Episode of “Scandal”
Television heroine Olivia Pope and I share an appreciation for fine cabernet sauvignon from the Bordeaux region. And we’re not the only ones. This varietal is currently the most popular red wine on the market and is also the world’s most widely planted grape. Cabernet sauvignon has become my go-to red, mostly for its bold juiciness and hints of vanilla and baking spices. And like Olivia, I enjoy drinking it out of a fish-bowl-sized wine glass.
Color:
Cabernet sauvignon is often an inky purple or ruby color.
Top Growing Regions:
Cabernet sauvignon is grown in just about every wine-producing country and climate, ranging from South America to Italy to the Northwestern areas of the United States. France and California, however, are known for yielding some of the world’s most delicious Cabs.
Other Names:
In France, you can expect Bordeaux blends to contain a large percentage of cabernet sauvignon. Italian super Tuscan wines are also commonly made with this grape. Other, less-common names for cabernet sauvignon include Bouchet, Petit-Bouchet, Petit-Cabernet, Petit-Vidure and Vidure.
Flavor Profile:
Cabernet sauvignon is characterized by bold, dark fruit flavors like blackberry, plum, black cherry, currant and boysenberry. Cabs also showcase savory herb and spice notes such as black pepper, red bell pepper, cinnamon, and anise. Tannins give the wine a lovely complexity and may also add notes of cedar, tobacco, and dark chocolate. Because the wine is commonly oaked, many cabs also display hints of smokiness, vanilla, coffee and baking spices. Smokiness can make Cab a great pairing with grilled meats and burgers. (This wine also pairs well with an episode of ‘Scandal’.)
Dinner Party Trivia:
California Cabs were first given international recognition as a result of a blind tasting at the 1976 “Judgment of Paris.” Wine experts unknowingly chose a California Cabernet over four top-ranked French Bordeaux.
Try It!
DCanter A Wine Boutique has a wide selection of the many wine styles made from this popular grape. Here are a few options to get you started.
- Fruit-forward: Tortoise Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (Lodi, California)
- Savory and herbaceous: Rhino Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (Paso Robles, California)
- In a blend: Chateau Haut Bailly Pessac-Leognan 2012 (Left Bank Bordeaux, France)
