Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted and one of the most well known grapes in the world. It originated in France and is in fact a crossing between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc which has only recently been discovered, in the 90’s.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a grape that is quite easy to grow as it has small, thick skins, is late ripening, prone to low yields and is resistant to rot and other vine diseases. As a result the wine is dark purple in color, full bodied with high tannins and a balanced acidity. Due to its tannins, such wines can age very well and preferably should not be consumed too young.

Cabernet is the main grape of Bordeaux’s left bank where it is often blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and sometimes with Petit Verdot and Malbec as part of the Bordeaux blend. The Cabernet Sauvignon blends that you will find on the left bank are higher in tannins, alcohol and acidity, and have a much better aging power than the right bank blends.

To understand how to choose a good Cabernet from France, we must explain the unique and intricate Bourdeaux classification system which can make it tricky to choose a wine.

How to choose a great Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux

Bordeaux, Left bank

• Bordeaux left bank = Cabernet Sauvignon dominant grape
• Bordeaux has a very complicated classification system but the important thing to know is that an AOC also has village AOCs. For example Haut – Médoc AOC has smaller AOCs like St. Julien. Generally the smaller the AOC the more rules it has regarding the quality of the wine so if a wine from St. Julien does not meet the requirements of that village AOC, it might pass as Haut – Médoc or even Bordeaux if the Haut – Médoc requirements are not met either.
• Major appellations:
  • Pauillac (Haut – Médoc)
  • St. Estephe (Haut – Médoc)
  • St. Julien (Haut – Médoc)
  • Margaux (Haut – Médoc)
  • Pessac – Léognan (Graves)
• Wine classifications for dry, red, left bank wines:
  • The 1855 Classification (also referred to as Grand Cru Classé) – top quality, ranks the wines from first growth to fifth growth according to price. It has 59 red wines from Médoc and 1 red wine from Graves. Premier Cru include 5 Châteaus: Margaux, Latour, Lafite – Rothschild, Haut – Brion, Mouton-Rothschild; also includes Médoc and Sauternes Châteaus
  • The Médoc Cru Bourgeois – good quality although a step below the 1855 Classification; awarded annually, only certain vintages receive this classification and are great value for money.
  • Bordeaux AOC or Bordeaux Supérieur AOC – more than half of Boudeaux’s wines; average quality; preferably avoid this type of wine.
• Choose a wine that has Mis en Bouteille au Château/ a la Proprietere: this means that the wine was bottled at the estate where the grapes come from and where the wine was produced and has not been blended with grapes from other places.
• Outstanding vintages (left bank): 1995, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016

Other Cabernet Sauvignon Regions

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