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Cabernet Sauvignon grape
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Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape known for blackcurrant, cedar, graphite. Its best-known homes are Bordeaux, Napa Valley, Coonawarra.
Origin and history
Born in Bordeaux in the 1600s as a natural cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, proven by DNA tests at UC Davis in 1997.
Where it grows
Bordeaux's Left Bank (Médoc, Pauillac, Margaux), Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Margaret River, Maipo Valley, Bolgheri, Washington State and Stellenbosch.
Structure
Full body, high tannin, medium-plus acidity. Small, thick-skinned berries give deep colour and grip.
Aromas, young and aged
Young: blackcurrant, black cherry, mint, green pepper and cedar from oak. With age: cigar box, tobacco, pencil shavings and dried herbs.
Ageing
Everyday bottles drink well at 3–8 years; top Bordeaux and Napa wines can age 20–40 years.
Also known as
Cab, Cab Sauv.
Good to know
Often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc (the Bordeaux blend) to soften its tannins.
Wine regions for Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon wines to try
Real bottles from The Wine Library.
Château Margaux Château Margaux
Bordeaux · Margaux · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Perfumed and silky: cassis, violets, cedar and fine tannins that age for decades.
Food: Roast lamb, beef Wellington
Château Lynch-Bages Château Lynch-Bages
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Rich Pauillac: blackcurrant, mint, graphite and toasty oak.
Food: Ribeye steak, roast lamb
Antinori Tignanello
Tuscany · Toscana IGT · Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
A Super Tuscan: cherry, plum, spice and polished tannins.
Food: Bistecca alla fiorentina, ragù
Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
Tuscany · Bolgheri Sassicaia · Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Elegant Cabernet blend: blackcurrant, herbs, cedar and fine structure.
Food: Roast lamb, wild boar
Vega Sicilia Único
Ribera del Duero · Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon
Spain's most famous red: dark fruit, cedar, spice and many years of ageing.
Food: Roast lamb, game
Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe and polished: blackcurrant, cherry, vanilla and mocha.
Food: Steak, burgers
Concha y Toro Don Melchor
Maipo Valley · Puente Alto · Cabernet Sauvignon
Chile's classic Cabernet: cassis, mint, cedar and fine tannins.
Food: Lamb, beef
Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1
Yarra Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot
Bordeaux-style blend: blackcurrant, cedar, violets and fine tannins.
Food: Roast beef, lamb
Mas de Daumas Gassac Rouge
Languedoc-Roussillon · Pays de l'Hérault · Cabernet Sauvignon
Languedoc's pioneering estate: blackcurrant, wild herbs, cedar and firm, age-worthy tannins.
Food: Roast lamb, duck confit, hard cheese
Esporão Reserva Tinto
Alentejo · Tempranillo, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon
Warm and ripe: blackberry, plum, vanilla and spice with smooth tannins.
Food: Pork and clams, roast meats, stews
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
Washington State · Columbia Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon
Washington icon: dense cassis, black cherry, cocoa and polished tannins.
Food: Ribeye steak, lamb rack, aged cheddar
Mission Hill Oculus
Okanagan Valley · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Canada's flagship Bordeaux blend: dark berries, cedar, mocha and fine structure.
Food: Beef tenderloin, venison, mushrooms
Errázuriz Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve
Aconcagua Valley · Aconcagua · Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Petit Verdot
Chile's classic icon: cassis, black cherry, graphite and polished tannins.
Food: Roast beef, lamb, aged cheese
Baron Philippe de Rothschild Mouton Cadet Rouge
Bordeaux · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Easy everyday claret: red berries, plum and soft tannins.
Food: Roast chicken, burgers, pâté
Cullen Diana Madeline
Margaret River · Wilyabrup · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Biodynamic Margaret River blend: cassis, mulberry, bay leaf and fine tannins.
Food: Lamb rack, beef fillet, mushrooms
Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran
Bordeaux · Bordeaux Supérieur · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Château Siran's approachable red: plum and soft tannins.
Food: Burgers, charcuterie
Château Beaumont Haut-Médoc
Bordeaux · Haut-Médoc · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Classic Haut-Médoc: blackcurrant, cedar and medium body.
Food: Lamb, steak
Château Cos d'Estournel G d'Estournel
Bordeaux · Médoc · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Médoc red from the Cos d'Estournel team: ripe and supple.
Food: Steak, duck
Château Siran Margaux
Bordeaux · Margaux · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Fragrant Margaux: violets, cassis and fine tannins.
Food: Lamb, beef
Château Lafite Rothschild Carruades de Lafite
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Lafite's second wine: cedar, cassis and elegance.
Food: Rack of lamb
Château de Pez 2nd de Pez
Bordeaux · Saint-Estèphe · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Second wine of de Pez: firm, fresh Saint-Estèphe.
Food: Steak, lamb
Château Montrose La Dame de Montrose
Bordeaux · Saint-Estèphe · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Montrose's second wine: dense blackcurrant and graphite.
Food: Beef, lamb
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith
Bordeaux · Pessac-Léognan · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Second wine of Smith Haut Lafitte: smoky, ripe and polished.
Food: Duck, lamb
Château La Mission Haut-Brion Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pessac-Léognan · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Great Graves red: smoke, tobacco, dark fruit and power.
Food: Beef Wellington, game
Château Troplong Mondot Mondot
Bordeaux · Saint-Émilion · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Second wine of Troplong Mondot: fresh red and dark fruit.
Food: Roast chicken, lamb
Château Troplong Mondot Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé
Bordeaux · Saint-Émilion · Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
From Saint-Émilion's highest point: dark fruit, freshness and structure.
Food: Beef, game
Château Mouton Rothschild Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Pauillac first growth with artist labels: opulent cassis and spice.
Food: Rack of lamb
Château Latour Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Powerful, long-lived Pauillac first growth.
Food: Beef, lamb
Château Haut-Brion Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pessac-Léognan · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
The Graves first growth: smoky, earthy and refined.
Food: Game, beef
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Seductive, Merlot-rich Pauillac: silky and perfumed.
Food: Lamb, duck
Château Pichon Baron Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Powerful Pauillac: blackcurrant, cedar and firm tannins.
Food: Steak, lamb
Château Cos d'Estournel Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Saint-Estèphe · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Exotic, spicy Saint-Estèphe second growth.
Food: Beef, lamb
Château Léoville Las Cases Grand Vin
Bordeaux · Saint-Julien · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Classic, structured Saint-Julien built for long ageing.
Food: Lamb, beef
Château Lagrange Saint-Julien
Bordeaux · Saint-Julien · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Saint-Julien third growth: balanced and fresh.
Food: Lamb, steak
Château Cantenac Brown Margaux
Bordeaux · Margaux · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Margaux third growth: firm, floral and dark-fruited.
Food: Lamb, beef
Château Palmer Margaux
Bordeaux · Margaux · Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot
Iconic Margaux: silky, perfumed and complex.
Food: Lamb, duck
Château Talbot Saint-Julien
Bordeaux · Saint-Julien · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Generous Saint-Julien fourth growth: cassis and cedar.
Food: Lamb, beef
Château Batailley Pauillac
Bordeaux · Pauillac · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Traditional Pauillac fifth growth: firm and classic.
Food: Steak, lamb
Alain Brumont Château Bouscassé
South West France · Madiran · Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon
Powerful Madiran: dark fruit and firm tannins.
Food: Cassoulet, duck confit
Château Musar Rouge
Bekaa Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan
Lebanon's icon: spicy, earthy and long-lived, released late.
Food: Lamb, mezze
Tenuta San Guido Le Difese
Tuscany · Toscana IGT · Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese
Sassicaia's third wine: fresh and approachable.
Food: Steak, pasta
Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco
Tuscany · Toscana IGT · Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese
Biodynamic Panzano Super Tuscan: dark and structured.
Food: Beef, lamb
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Ornellaia
Tuscany · Bolgheri Superiore · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Bolgheri icon: opulent dark fruit, spice and fine tannins.
Food: Beef, lamb
Finca Villacreces Pruno
Ribera del Duero · Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe, modern Ribera: great value.
Food: Lamb, burgers
Bodega Pirineos 3404 Tinto
Somontano · Moristel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Fresh Pyrenean-foothills red.
Food: Tapas, pizza
Lake Breeze Bernoota Shiraz Cabernet
Langhorne Creek · Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe, plush Shiraz-Cabernet.
Food: BBQ, steak
Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon
Coonawarra · Cabernet Sauvignon
Terra rossa Cabernet: blackcurrant and mint.
Food: Lamb, steak
Penfolds Bin 180 Cabernet Shiraz
Coonawarra · Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
Rare special-release Penfolds bin: deep and powerful.
Food: Beef, game
Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon
Margaret River · Cabernet Sauvignon
Flagship Margaret River Cabernet: cassis, cedar and polish.
Food: Lamb, beef
Meerlust Red
Stellenbosch · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Classic Stellenbosch Bordeaux-style blend.
Food: Steak, lamb
Vilafonté Seriously Old Dirt
Paarl · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec
Ripe, polished Cape blend.
Food: Lamb, steak
Vilafonté Series M
Paarl · Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon
Plush, Merlot-Malbec Cape blend.
Food: Beef, game
Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc
Stellenbosch · Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Old-vine Cape Cabernet blend: fine and savoury.
Food: Lamb, beef
Errázuriz Villa Cabernet Shiraz Malbec
Aconcagua Valley · Aconcagua · Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec
Ripe Aconcagua red blend.
Food: BBQ, steak
Viña Los Vascos Le Dix
Colchagua Valley · Colchagua · Cabernet Sauvignon
Lafite-owned estate's top Cabernet: cassis and cedar.
Food: Lamb, beef
Almaviva Puente Alto
Maipo Valley · Puente Alto · Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère
Chile's icon, a Mouton Rothschild–Concha y Toro partnership.
Food: Beef, lamb
Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley · Oakville · Cabernet Sauvignon
Polished Oakville Cabernet: cassis and cocoa.
Food: Steak, lamb
Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon
Historic Calistoga vineyard: deep, mineral Cabernet.
Food: Beef, game
BOND St. Eden
Napa Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon
Harlan family single-vineyard Cabernet: dense and refined.
Food: Beef fillet
BOND Melbury
Napa Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon
Hillside BOND Cabernet: floral, fine-grained.
Food: Lamb, beef
Harlan Estate Harlan Estate
Napa Valley · Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Napa cult icon: opulent, layered and long-lived.
Food: Beef, truffle
Celler del Roure Les Alcusses
Valencia · Moixent · Monastrell, Garnacha Tintorera, Syrah / Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
Mediterranean blend with dark berries, garrigue herbs and a smooth, savoury finish.
Food: Paella with rabbit, grilled meats, stews
Viña Altaïr Altaïr
Cachapoal Valley · Alto Cachapoal · Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Syrah / Shiraz
Andean-foothill flagship, cassis, graphite and fresh herbs with fine, structured tannins.
Food: Rib-eye steak, lamb rack, aged cheese
Similar red grapes
Explore all grapes in the interactive guide
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