Cabernet Sauvignon: its characteristics
Cabernet Sauvignon is the result of the “crossing” between the grape varieties Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc, which were produced in France around the 17th century.
It is also a grape widely used for making cuvée, as it can provide a lot of colour, tannin, and a distinctive aroma that is often reminiscent of green pepper, herbs, as well as ripe red fruit.
It is also a plant with a high yield per bunch, which adapts very well to warm areas. On the other hand, it is recognised for its great capacity for ageing, as proper ageing, both in barrels and in the bottle, usually produces wines with an elegantly rough character, with aromatic notes of tobacco, leather and spices.
Cabernet Sauvignon wines aged in barrels and opened after several years after harvesting are usually very interesting wines, which can surprise with well-marked coffee notes, soft palate and long finish.
Argentina offers at least three styles of Cabernet Sauvignon with one particularity: they all come from continental climates, something very rare to find in other parts of the world.
Cabernet Sauvignon and its characteristics in South America
The variety of climates and terroirs that abound in this country is reflected in its Cabernet Sauvignon wines. In the Northwest, for example in Salta, this grape reaches wines with an amazing intensity of colour, in the frame of blackberry and green pepper aromas.
Salta, given the height of the vineyards, is an ideal place to discover robust wines, with great typicality and volume on the palate. It is even ideal to meet those who do not have a step in the barrel, and thus get even closer to the most genuine and original flavor of the strain. Of course, in this case, it is only recommended for palates accustomed to wines with a certain density on the palate.
In the Cuyo region, on the other hand, in provinces such as Mendoza or La Rioja, its fruity character is enhanced by aromatic notes such as ripe red currants. Further south, in the southernmost and patagonian areas, the mineral and earthy aromas are enhanced.
Chile is also characterized by a wide variety of climates, pure air and vineyards, ranging from the driest desert regions to leafy and humid regions.
Recognised worldwide, Cabernet Sauvignon has made Chile its second home since its arrival from France in the mid-19th century. This late-ripening red grape flourishes in vineyards in the Aconcagua, Maipo, Cachapoal and Colchagua valleys, where the high level of sunshine, the breeze coming down from the Andes Mountains that provides cold nights and the absence of rain in summer have allowed us to achieve, throughout the harvests and the years, a consistent Cabernet of the highest quality, with an optimum maturity that provides notes of red fruits, aromas of blackcurrant, figs and cocoa and even truffles.
Uruguay also has interesting conditions for the development of Cabernet Sauvignon, especially in the region of Canelones or Colonia. The land in this area, especially in Carmelo, and the stony areas near the San Juan River, are of excellent quality for wine production. Combined with the mild climate generated by the warm waters of the Uruguay and Paraná rivers, the conditions are especially suitable for late-ripening varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
All in all, this grape has the reputation of being “the queen of red grapes”, and we recommend trying it both in its single-variety version and in cuvées, where its aromatic contribution and structure will be notoriously distinctive.
We invite you to discover the richest Cabernet Sauvignon in South America, by clicking here
