Cabernet Sauvignon – Great for Celebrations

Cabernet Sauvignon a famous California wine

Cabernet Sauvignon in St. Helena, CA

The California Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine meant to be served with a celebratory meal. Cabs are known for having an aroma and palate rich with the flavors of cassis (blackcurrant), black cherry and blackberry, and often hints of black pepper, tobacco, licorice, vanilla and violets. They are most often paired with foods that have strong flavors of their own, such as grilled or roasted red meat — especially venison, lamb or rich beef. Try serving the wine at 14 to 16 degrees centigrade (57 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) to get the full flavor, and cut back on the seasonings with the meat. A Cab also goes well with wild fowl, red cabbage, aged cheeses, truffles or honey-roasted carrots.

Wine club

Cabernet Sauvignon usually matures nine to eighteen months in French, American or Hungarian oak. Some of the most famous Cabs come from multiple rootstocks and vineyards, combining in vats of French oak to achieve just the right balance. The Cabernet Sauvignon grape has long been prized for its ability to survive in a variety of climates without sacrificing quality. In 1976, a hundred years after the first California Cabs were planted, one of them was preferred over French Bordeaux wines in the famous “Judgment of Paris” blind taste test in France. Join a wine club to learn more about the Cab.

Some very good Cabs 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. 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.” They also offer Estate and Signature Cabs, which are of particularly high quality.

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.