Cabernet Sauvignon is Great with These Meals

Cabernet Sauvignon Is Great With These Meals

Cabernet Sauvignon famous for its richness.

With its bold flavor, the California Cabernet Sauvignon demands to be served with a good meal. A classic red wine with blackcurrant notes and strong tannins, the “Cab” goes well with wild fowl, red cabbage, aged cheeses, truffles, honey-roasted carrots or grilled red meat — especially venison, lamb or well-marbled beef. Try serving the wine at 14 to 16 degrees centigrade (57 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) to get the full flavor.

Evolution of the Grape

For most of the 20th century, Cabernet Sauvignon was the most widely planted premium red wine grape in the world, praised for its ability to survive in many climates without sacrificing quality. In 1976, a hundred years after being brought to California, the California Cabernet truly came into its own when an American Cab was preferred over French Bordeaux wines in the famous “Judgment of Paris” blind taste test in France. In the ‘80s, the vines were grafted onto American rootstock to protect them from phylloxera, which led to a more sugary grape and a stronger wine. This wine is perfect for a wedding or anniversary celebration, an upscale cookout or any occasion when roast beef or lamb is being served, although you may want to dial back the seasonings so as to better appreciate the wine.

An excellent Cab near St. Helena, CA

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards in Napa Valley, a short drive from downtown St. Helena, produces world-class wines at affordable prices, including a famous Cabernet Sauvignon with distinct licorice notes. The Conn Valley Cabernet has been rated one of the top Cabernets in the world since the inaugural vintage of 1987. The fruit is more similar to mountain fruit than valley floor fruit, and the style is more Bordeaux in style than the average Napa Cabernet, exhibiting more dark fruit and a very refreshing finish that makes it perfect for food pairing. The Conn Valley Cabernet is what is called in the industry as a chef style wine. This means that chefs find it easy to pair this wine with just about anything because of the beautiful bright and refreshing acidity on the finish. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate praises the 2012 vintage for its “terrific purity, plenty of depth and ripeness, and a full-bodied mouthfeel” and describes the 2010 Cab as “an elegant, finesse-styled effort to enjoy over the next decade.”

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards has been owned and operated by the Anderson family since 1983. Anderson’s wines are sold online and in five locations in Napa Valley, and many other locations nationwide. Wine club members save $25 buying the 2013 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon online. If you’re looking for a good wine to serve at a special occasion, order a bottle today.