Powerful and with just enough complexity to keep you wanting more, this Cabernet is a knock out. Sweet plum and mulberry, with some minty edges, and a wash of blackcurrant juice. This all leads into cinnamon and clove spiciness, with firm tannins and a dense texture. Serious stuff!

Origin: It’s believed that the first wines made were in the Medoc region, in the west of France. Mainly Grown In: France leads the way here, with Bordeaux the big one. Also California, South Australia, central and northern Italy, plus Argentina. Key Facts: Cabernet Sauvignon is truly a globetrotter. Having its home in Bordeaux certainly helped its rapid expansion, as the Bordelaise (those coming from Bordeaux) are excellent marketers of their own product! Now found in almost all wine-producing countries of the world, Cab Sav is traditionally full-bodied, loaded with plenty of dark fruit (think blueberry and blackberry) and backed up by a zing of herbal/grassy kind of flavours. It’s also known for its strong backbone of tannin – that furry, drying sensation you sometimes get with red wines. Cabernet has plenty of it, but is still a smooth talker regardless. Fun Fact: In a study done by Heriot-Watt University, they found that different music types could boost a tasters’ wine score by 60%… blasting some Hendrix would enhance Cabernet Sauvignon while a Kylie Minogue tune went well with a glass of chardonnay. Very apt.