Cabernet Sauvignon is a captivating and multifaceted vine, whose powerful tannic structure can give life to extremely complex and long-lived wines. It is the most cultivated wine grape variety in the world, often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the so-called Bordeaux blends.
It has uncertain origins but, as the name suggests, Cabernet Sauvignon is a hybrid that comes from the spontaneous crossing, probably occurred in the 17th century in the Bordeaux area, between Cabernet Franc (red grape variety) and Sauvignon Blanc (white grape variety), summarizing the best characteristics of both in a single variety.
The name “Sauvignon” derives from the French word sauvage (wild) which indicates a vine that grows free and flourishing.
The Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety was imported into Italy at the beginning of the 19th century, but it was in the post-war period that this grape variety experienced a great expansion, being gradually planted throughout Italy to replace the local vines destroyed by phylloxera and battles.
Today, Cabernet Sauvignon is grown not only in Europe, but also in America, Africa, New Zealand and Australia, becoming the most widespread red grape variety in the world and, together with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, an international grape variety par excellence.
THE WINE:
Vinified in purity, Cabernet Sauvignon gives rise to a wine with a very intense ruby red color, often impenetrable, with purple, almost blue hues.
THE AROMAS:
Cabernet Sauvignon is a decidedly exuberant grape variety with aromas of strong identity. On the nose it is complex with characteristics that recall aromas of red and dark pulp fruits such as blueberries, black cherries, plums, blackberries and blackcurrants, but also traces of undergrowth such as moss and rocks.
The aging of Cabernet Sauvignon in wood allows an evolution of the aromas towards bewitching tertiary, balsamic and spicy notes, such as eucalyptus, mint, tobacco, roasted coffee and bitter cocoa.
THE TASTE:
On the palate it is warm, broad and full-bodied; it enjoys an excellent structure and the tannins envelop the mouth with mastery, thanks to the high quantity of polyphenolic substances present in the skin.
The tannins, combined with a discrete acidity and a good presence of alcohol, make Cabernet Sauvignon an extremely long-lived wine: it lends itself very well to aging in wood, which makes it softer and rounder by softening the tannins, and aging can vary from 3-4 years, up to even 20.