1/5
SweetnessDrySweet
The grape archive
Cabernet Sauvignon
cab-er-NAY soh-veen-YON
The world’s most recognisable structured red variety: black-fruited, tannic and highly responsive to site and oak ageing.
Typical flavour register
01Blackcurrant02Black cherry03Cedar04Mint05Graphite
In the glass
A visual taste profile.
These scales describe a representative dry expression. Climate, harvest date, yields and winemaking can move an individual wine in another direction.
4/5
AciditySoftFresh
5/5
TanninSilkyFirm
5/5
BodyLightFull
4/5
FruitSavouryFruit-led
Where it grows
From origin to the wider vineyard.
The first country is the grape’s principal reference point; the remaining countries show important established cultivation rather than a complete planting census.
France
Core countryMédoc · Napa Valley · Coonawarra
United States
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
Chile
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
Australia
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
South Africa
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
Three useful expressions
Fresh & fruit-led
Juicy fruit, moderate extraction and little oak emphasise immediate pleasure.
Classic regional style
The grape’s familiar balance of fruit, structure, spice and place.
Structured & age-worthy
Lower yields, selected sites and careful ageing build concentration and longevity.
Handling
Serve16–18 °C
GlassLarge Bordeaux glass
Decant60–120 minutes when young
Cellar5–25+ years
At the table
Pair it by weight, freshness and aroma.
Why Cabernet Sauvignon matters
Its thick skins provide colour and tannin; in blends it often supplies structure and longevity.
The best examples balance the grape’s natural character with climate, soil and cellar choices. Treat the profile as a compass rather than a fixed recipe.
Reference databases and further readingVIVC · Variety database ↗OIV · Vitivinicultural data ↗Wine Folly · Grape guide ↗