Do you know your grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most planted red grape variety. Although grown widely around the globe, it is most often associated with the red wines of Bordeaux. In the vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are small, thick-skinned and distinctly blue, with a high pip-to-pulp ratio. Its thick skin produces wines of deep colour, while the seeds add a high level of tannin.

It ripens late, which is an advantage in warmer climates such as those of Bordeaux, France and California. In cooler growing environments, Cabernet Sauvignon can easily fail to ripen properly. Unripe Cabernet Sauvignon shows many of the same aromas as unripe Cabernet Franc, notably a green or herbaceous character — not entirely surprising, since Cabernet Sauvignon's parents are Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.

The flavours of Cabernet Sauvignon can vary from one region to another. Cabernet Sauvignon from the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux differs considerably from that grown further north, in Pauillac for example. The finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines tend to have deep colour, good structure and full body. They are tannic in their youth, especially when aged in oak, and often need a few years to soften before becoming pleasant to drink. Typical aromas include black fruits such as blackcurrant or blackberry, along with notes of cigar box, tobacco and coffee.

Cabernet Sauvignon is at home in Bordeaux, where it is the key red variety on the Left Bank regions of the Medoc and Pessac-Leognan. Here it is the main component of Bordeaux-style red blends, with more modest additions of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The finest Medoc wines come from Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estephe, and are arguably the grape's greatest expressions — deeply coloured reds, highly tannic and able to age for decades.

The other region that rivals Bordeaux for Cabernet Sauvignon is California, and Napa Valley in particular, where the grape has become ubiquitous. The region is famous for its Bordeaux-style red blends and cult Cabernets, whose prices can often match or exceed those of the Bordeaux first growths. Other North American regions producing quality Cabernet Sauvignon include Washington State and British Columbia in Canada.

Elsewhere, Cabernet Sauvignon is grown to a greater or lesser extent in virtually every wine region. High-quality wines are made in Bolgheri, Italy, and in Australia, notably in Margaret River and Coonawarra. It is permitted in certain Spanish red-wine regions, including Rioja and Ribera del Duero, and there are considerable, good-quality plantings in Chile, Argentina and South Africa.

To reveal the full potential of a Cabernet Sauvignon, discover our selection of red-wine glasses.