April 12, 2022
Delicious, slightly sweet, full-bodied, but what is cabernet sauvignon? Sure, you’ve tasted this beloved wine in restaurants, at parties, and even at home. And when you’re looking for buy wine online, there are important things to consider, including taste, appearance, age, and price. So let’s take a deep dive into what this beloved wine is. We’ll talk about all the important stuff like how to serve and drink, the best taxis at different prices, and other cool facts!
Where does Cabernet Sauvignon come from?
The Cab variety is a fairly versatile hybrid variety. Although it originated in Bordeaux, France, today Cabernet Sauvignon is produced all over the world. Cabernet Sauvignon This variety was created by an accidental cross made in the 17th century between Cabernet Franc, a deep red variety, and Sauvignon Blanc, a white variety.
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are grown all over the world. Cabs come mainly from Napa Valley in California, where the climate is warm and hospitable for this late ripening grape. However, some really great taxis come from Washington State, France, Australia, South America and many more. Where does Cabernet Sauvignon come from? plays a part in the subtle flavor differences, which brings us to the next part…
Cabernet Sauvignon originates from Bordeaux, France. However, it is now found in many parts of the world. Specifically, Napa Valley, California.
What does Cabernet Sauvignon taste like?
Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied dark red wine. Its flavor profile varies considerably and can range from notes of black pepper to sweet strawberries. There are over 3,500 varieties of Cab, so the flavors in each bottle can be different depending on many factors. Taxis can have one of the following flavors:
- Cassis
- the tobacco
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Chocolate
- Truffle
- Cedar
- Coffee
- Eucalyptus
- Boysen’s Bay
- Pepper
- Vanilla
According to the Masterclass article, Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like green pepper. This flavor comes from pyrazine. This chemical compound is found in the skin of grapes and some varieties contain more pyrazine than others, so the intensity of this flavor can vary.
So after taking a sip, ask yourself what does this Cabernet Sauvignon taste like? You should be able to taste a variety of flavors!
How to Drink Cabernet Sauvignon
You saw people swirling, sniffing, sipping wine. But what is the good way to drink Cabernet Sauvignon and really savor all the flavors? Below, we’ll walk you through the steps to drinking Cabs properly according to expert sommeliers.
- Take a good look at the wine. Tilt the glass about 40 degrees and check the color and opacity. Some taxis will be darker than others. The opacity will also vary.
- Smell the wine. Hold the glass about half an inch from your nose and inhale deeply through your nose. What do you feel? It might take a few sniffles to figure out all the different smells. What you smell in the wine will also show through in what you taste.
- Take a small sip. Let it roll around your tongue, then let it sit for a second or two. What are the different notes and flavors you taste? Is it acidic? Soft? Dry? Do you taste the berries? Pepper? Vanilla? There are no right or wrong answers and people will taste different things because all of our taste buds vary.
You have now learned how to drink Cabs!
How to serve Cabernet Sauvignon?
We can write an entire article on how to serve Cabernet Sauvignon, but we’ll try to be short and sweet here. How you serve a Cab can really impact the flavors and notes that come out of it.
Let’s start with the temperature of the wine. Cabernet Sauvignons are best served between 55 and 65 degrees. This is called the cellar temperature. The best option is to store your wine in a wine cellar, but if you don’t have one, the best solution is to put it in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving it. Also, remember to hold the wine glass by the stem rather than the bowl so the wine doesn’t get warm from the heat of your hand.
Second, decant the wine. Wondering why your second glass of wine tastes better than your first? It is not a coincidence. The oxidation process allows the wine to open up and become more alive. If you have a decanter, you should use it if you plan to drink the wine soon after opening it. You should still let the wine sit in the carafe for at least 30 minutes before drinking it.
However, if you have a bit of time and don’t have a decanter handy, we suggest opening the bottle and letting time work its magic. Give it about an hour and give it a try.
Third, choose a wine glass that has a wider bowl. Serving Cabernet Sauvignon in a larger bowl gives it more exposure to air, allowing the flavors to achieve the full range of aromas. A glass with a larger bowl and a tapered rim works best with a full-bodied Cab.
Use these methods to really impress your guests with the way you serve Cabernet Sauvignon.
What goes best with Cabernet Sauvignon?
Wine, if paired well, enhances the flavor of food. However, did you know that food can also enhance the flavor of wine? The acidity and different profiles of wine interact with foods to create new flavors that you might not otherwise experience with either.
Since Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold and heavy wine, it is best paired with heavier, richer dishes to complement food rather than overwhelm it. Here are some dishes that go very well with a Cabernet Sauvignon:
- Steak
- Lamb
- A juice burger
- cold cuts
- roasted Brussels sprouts
- Cheese
- Portobello mushrooms
- Dark chocolate
What are the best Cabernet Sauvignons?
Ok, now you have learned everything you need to know to serve and drink Cabernet Sauvignon the right way. But how to choose the right one? It really depends on several factors; the budget being one of the most important. Here we will offer you our best choices of taxis at different price points.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – It’s definitely a fan favorite. It’s full-bodied and rich with flavors of blackberries, toasted hazelnuts and hints of vanilla. This is a wine you can enjoy any night of the week. With such a reasonable price (usually under $20), you don’t need a special occasion to open a bottle of this fantastic wine.
Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – All beloved wines know this brilliant wine. With its bold, dark color and flavors of cocoa, cassis and dark red berries, it delights the taste buds. This wine usually costs between $100 and $115 and makes a great gift.
Duckhorn 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon – 2019 brought another exceptional vintage to Napa Valley thanks to favorable weather conditions. This wine is aged for 16 months in 100% French oak barrels. This wine offers tantalizing aromas of blueberry jam, black cherry and cinnamon spice, creating beautifully rich and complex flavors on the palate.
Double Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon Noir – Get this limited edition bottle now, if you can! This wine has won numerous awards, including that of Gold of the Critics Challenge wine competition. At just under $15, it shows that price isn’t the only determining factor in what makes a great wine.
Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon – From the Caymus family, this more affordable wine features flavors of blackberries, blueberries, vanilla and toast. At just under $25/bottle, this is a sophisticated wine at a very reasonable price.
Buena Vista Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – A fantastic mid-priced Cab. It drinks like a $100 bottle, but half the price. With notes of oak, vanilla, chocolate and plum, this is a rich, full-bodied wine with velvety tannins.
Leese Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon – A great taxi for less than $13! This wine has a lot of complexity and flavor. This wine is bursting with aromas of sweet cranberry, cassis, toasted marshmallow, charred dill and roasted red pepper. It’s definitely a heartier wine, so enjoy it with heavier dishes like a steak or burger.
How many calories are in a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon?
So we learned how to drink and serve Cabernet Sauvignon. Another question that people ask quite often is: how many calories does a bottle of Cab contain?
There are about 600 to 615 calories in a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, or about 120 calories per 5-ounce glass. The calorie count doesn’t vary much from bottle to bottle because most of the calories come from alcohol, not sugar or carbs. In fact, most cabbage only contains 3-4 grams of carbs and about 1 gram of sugar. If you are looking for a low sugar winethere are wines like FitVine Cabernet Sauvignon which contain 3.9 g of carbohydrates and 0.06 grams of sugar per 5 oz glass.
You now have the essential skills to drink and serve Cabernet Sauvignon. Choosing the right bottle for you will depend on your preferences. So we always say try lots of different bottles and enjoy the process!
