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Showing entries for Category: cabernet-sauvignon
Wine word Wednesday: the 'noble' reds, part three of the trilogy
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Classic--noble--red grapes
Cabernet Sauvingnon- The cab. sauv. grape is the foundation of red bordeaux. This preeminent grape variety is the most successful of the noble grapes- it is planted wherever wine is produced and it retains such a strong character to have an undeniable recognizable taste wherever it may be grown. It produces relatively low yields and is generally grown with an aim to produce top quality wine. Cabernet's flavors and aromas show black-fruits, leather, plum, cedar, and mint. Cabs are tannic, very dark in color and age well in oak. The world's most prized cabs come from Medoc (Margaux, Pauillac, St.-Julien), and Bordeaux (St.-Estephe). World-class cabs are also made in California, Chile and Argentina, Italy, and Australia.
Merlot- Considered similar to cabernet , merlot often has similar aromas and flavors to that grape- black-fruits, cassis, plum, chocolate, coffee, and leather. It plays an important role in some world class wines--especially Chateaux Petrus, the world's most famous and expensive merlot, in again, Bordeaux--and has lead California winemakers to experiment widely with the grape. Merlots have softer tannins than cabs, they are grown to perfection also in California, New York State, Washington Sate, and Italy.
Syrah- Syrah is the grape of the great Rhone wines. Australia has jumped on board the syrah bandwagon with gusto and is producing serious syrahs. Syrah originated in (by historian's claims) in what is now Iran, in the town of Shiraz. The grape is relatively easy to grow, in conducive climates. Syrah's should ideally age in oak and are smokey and rich, and though the vine grows well in other regions, it is most widely associated with France, Australia (shiraz), and California (petite syrah)
Pinot Noir- This grape is finicky and infuriating for the winemaker to grow. It is the grape of the great red burgundy. Wines made by the grape are called sensual; silky, supple, and earthy. The grape is highly sensitive to climate changes. It is lighter in color and body than the cabernet sauvignon and the merlot and is markedly less tannic. The grape proliferates in Burgundy (France), Oregon, and around the top vineyards in and around the prime wine growing regions of northern California. It is also a major component in French champagne.
Topics: syrah , cabernet sauvignon
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