Believe it or not, one of the question I get more often than not is simply, What does Cabernet Sauvignon taste like? Now the question is sometimes meant to imply, like, what is it that I’m tasting here when drinking Cabernet Sauvignon and other times it’s meant to mean, what is so special about Cabernet Sauvignon that everyone is drinking it. Cabernet Sauvignon is, after all, the most popular grape variety in the world with nearly 1 million acres planted.
Before we dive into the characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon, we need to first understand wine descriptors in general. When we say Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like black currants, blackberries, and plums, we do not mean there are actual blackberries added to the wine. If a wine label says Cabernet Sauvignon, it has at least 75% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in it. (There might be some other red wine grapes added in to balance it out, but it’s only grapes, no other fruit.)
So these wine descriptors are our perceptions of the wine. It’s mostly subjective. However, and this is a big however, there are esters and aroma compounds found in wines that do exist in the fruits that smell and taste like them.
With Cabernet Sauvignon the most obvious aroma and flavor for me to detect is the green pepper. (I hate green peppers so this is why that smell always jumps out at me). This is the aroma compounds called pyrazines. Pyrazines exist in both green pepper and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Cab Franc, Carmenere, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot, which is why all those wines smell a bit like green peppers. Make sense?
Another taste element to consider is that most Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in oak barrels which give Cab Sauv a whole other dimension of aromas and flavors. Oak barrels give wine vanilla, coconut, dill, chocolate, espresso, and baking spice smells.
Okay, now let’s dive into the question at hand, What does Cabernet Sauvignon taste like? The following list includes the 10 most popular wine descriptions for Cabernet Sauvignon. I’ll also be breaking this down into 4 regions because each in each wine region Cabernet Sauvignon expresses itself a bit differently.
Wine Descriptors for Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold flavored wine. It is full-bodied with medium acidity, and strong tannins. It has a creamy mouthfeel and the flavors coat your mouth and leave a lingering impression. The most notable flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon are the dark berry fruits.
The fruit/flower descriptors below are from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. The spice flavors come from oak.
- Black Currants
- Black Cherries
- Plum
- Green Peppers
- Raspberry
- Violets
- Vanilla
- Coconut
- Chocolate
- Tobacco
Sounds delicious, right? It is! Now depending on the climate, soil, and winemaker, Cabernet Sauvignon tastes slightly different. If you want to easily train yourself to be a better wine taster, I suggest you take my online wine tasting course. Above are the core wine descriptors for Cab Sauv, below are specific smells you’ll find from the 4 most popular wine regions that produce excellent wines.
What’s your favorite wine descriptor for Cabernet Sauvignon?
In doing a bit of research for this article, I came across some really off the wall wine descriptors. I don’t want to call anyone out but I swear some of these people like to write the craziest stuff. Tell me what Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like to you.