Cabernet Sauvignon

It entered the wine world first in Bordeaux in the late 1700s.

Tannins -- a natural part of grape skins, seeds, and stems --make Cabernet a firm-bodied, substantial wine. Because red wines soak with their skins, they gain color and increase tannins.

What does Cabernet Sauvignon taste like?

Typical comments on Cabernets call it black currant, cherry, plum, jammy, bell pepper, chocolate, mint, cigar box, chocolate and spice--to name a few. Most Cabernets need a few years of aging to gain their fine wine quality of layered fruit and firm structure. California Cabernets are drinkable from 3 to 10 years or even longer.

Cabernet likes California. Napa Valley Cabernet is exquisite. Napa's warmer microclimates give the wine complex fruit flavors. Sonoma Valley Cabernets tend to have lighter green herb and olive notes. In cooler areas like Monterey, this wine can take on vegetable-like tones of bell pepper and oregano.