Cabernet Sauvignon
The king of red grapes: structured, age-worthy and full of blackcurrant. It's Napa Valley's calling card and a star in Washington, Paso Robles and Sonoma.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most famous red grape and the foundation of Bordeaux's great wines. It's the result of a 17th-century crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. In the U.S. it's the signature grape of Napa Valley and the most planted red wine grape in California, and it makes some of the most collectible wines in the country.
What It Tastes Like
Cabernet is full-bodied, with blackcurrant, black cherry and plum, plus cedar, tobacco, graphite and sometimes mint or eucalyptus. It has firm tannins and good acidity, which is why it ages so well. New oak adds vanilla, mocha and spice. Young Cabernet can be grippy, and it softens and gains complexity over years in the bottle.
Where It Grows
Napa Valley is the heart of American Cabernet, from Oakville and Rutherford to Stags Leap District and the mountain AVAs like Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain District. Sonoma's Alexander Valley, Paso Robles, Washington's Columbia Valley, Red Mountain and Walla Walla Valley, Texas and Virginia also make excellent Cabernet.
What to Look For
- Napa Valley Cabernet, the benchmark, often worth a dedicated tasting.
- Washington Cabernet, often a better value, with bright fruit and structure.
- Bordeaux-style blends, often labeled Meritage.
Where to Find Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine regions on American Winery Guide where Cabernet Sauvignon is grown or poured: