Wine

Cathal McBride: Let cabernet sauvignon seduce you with its star qualities

New and exciting wines coming out of Chile and southern Australia in recent times showcase the appeal of the king of grapes

Cabernet sauvignon: does it shine as a one-man show?

There’s something quite seductive about cabernet sauvignon. Its distinctive fruit, affiliation with oak and ageing potential make it the king of grapes. Formed as a cross between cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc, it has flourished worldwide from Bordeaux’s Left Bank to south Australia and beyond.

While I’ve often featured cabernet here, I have never written a piece specifically about this varietal. That raises the question: does it truly shine as a one-man show, or do ...