Cabernet Sauvignon

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Types of Wine for Investment - Cabernet Sauvignon

Perhaps the most famous red wine grape in the world is the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Originally from the Medoc and Graves sub-regions of Bordeaux, this grape needs a slightly warmer climate than many other varieties.

It is now widely planted including in California where it has become one of the best known wines produced in the US.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a densely coloured, medium to full-bodied wine with notable tannins. In the Bordeaux region it thrives on well-drained, gravel-rich soils that help to give it its distinctive flavour.

Winemakers often age Cabernet Sauvignon in barrels of different woods, which adds unique flavours. Small barrels are generally used to age the wine, as the smaller the barrel, the more pronounced the effect of the wood. Despite how the wine is aged, it is the effects of the warm sun and soil that make this a truly world-class wine.

Production of Sauvignon

As well as being produced in France and the USA, Cabernet Sauvignon is also grown in Australia where the famous Terra Rossa soil in Coonawara is particularly suited to the grape. In Italy, aged Cabernet Sauvignon is the main component in Super Tuscans such as Sassicaia and Tignanello. In this instance, it is either used on its own or as a part of a blend with Sangiovese.

Generally speaking, the more expensive Bordeaux wines will improve with age. The trick is to know when the wine will reach its peak of maturity as after this, the quality will slowly deteriorate. Medium quality Cabernet Sauvignons may be aged for 5 - 6 years from vintage before they need to be drunk. Very good wines of this type may take 7 - 15 years but some really special ones could be aged for 20 years or even more.