Cabernet Sauvignon

The ‘Gerard Depardieu’ of the grape world: world famous, capable of brilliance and sometimes prone to bad behaviour. One might wonder why the relatively small, late ripening, thick skinned grapes are such stars on the world wine stage. The main reason is their stellar appearance in the most prestigious Bordeaux wines. With the right terroir, the blackcurrant flavours can become sublime and the potential for ageing and affinity with oak barrels produces world-beating reds. Don't ignore 'Cab Sauvs' from other countries though. While French Cabernet is definitely an 'A List' wine, there are also great examples from South Africa, Chile, California, Australia and the Lebanon.