There's a reason Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted wine grape in the world. Structured, powerful and built to age, it's a grape that rewards patience and produces some of the most celebrated wines in existence. But the Cabernet story starts with a surprise.
A happy accident
Cabernet Sauvignon didn't exist until a spontaneous crossing occurred between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, most likely in a Bordeaux vineyard sometime in the 1600s. Nobody planned it. It was only in 1996 that DNA analysis at UC Davis confirmed what had happened, the world's most celebrated red grape was born entirely by accident. From that chance crossing came a variety with the structure of Cabernet Franc and the aromatic intensity and acidity of Sauvignon Blanc. Both qualities that help explain why Cabernet ages so remarkably well.
What makes it age so well
Cabernet has some of the thickest skins of any red grape, which means high tannins, deep colour and natural preservative power. Combined with good natural acidity and concentrated fruit, it produces wines that develop and improve in the bottle for decades. A well-made Coonawarra or Margaret River Cabernet at ten years old can be a completely different, and often more interesting, wine than the same bottle opened on release. Tannins soften, fruit integrates and secondary flavours of cedar, tobacco and earth begin to emerge.
The art of the blend
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is almost always blended, typically with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Each brings something different: Merlot adds softness, Cabernet Franc contributes fragrance and spice, Malbec brings colour and plushness. Australian winemakers have embraced this tradition, Cabernet Merlot is one of the country's most popular red blends, producing wines that are more immediately approachable than straight Cabernet while retaining its characteristic depth and structure.
Straight Cabernet, the purist's choice
A single varietal Cabernet is a statement of confidence, in the vineyard, the vintage and the winemaker. The great single varietal Cabernets from Coonawarra and Margaret River are among the finest in the world, cassis, dark plum, cedar, fine tannins and a finish that lingers long after the glass is empty.
Two expressions. One great grape.
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