Ep 421: Alternatives to A Favorite - Cabernet Sauvignon

<p>Inspired by a question from a Patron, we give you an original list of wines that are true alternatives to Cabernet if you love the OG and you want to branch out. We come up with 7 solid ideas that are similar but different enough to make them interesting.</p> <p> </p> <p>The original idea for this list was from Patron Serl Z. and Leigh W. gets credit for naming this series.  People were so excited for these new ideas, we may just make it into a series!</p> <p><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/1.png" alt="" width= "300" height="197" /></p> <p>We begin by discussing the main characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon:</p> <ul> <li>Flavors: Black fruit –especially blackcurrant, black cherry, black plum, blackberry -- earth in Old World versions, fruit in New World versions. The wine occasionally shows mint, eucalyptus, thyme, or green pepper notes. With oak Cab smells and tastes like tobacco, pencil shavings, cigar box, leather</li> <li>Generally tannic with good acidity. Some can be age-worthy if they have good tannin structure and acidity (backbone)</li> <li>Flavors depend on terroir, winemaking, oak aging</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Alternatives:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Mourvèdre/Monastrell/Mataro</strong> (Bandol in France, Monastrell from southern Spain, and GSM blends from the US and Australia) – dark fruit, intense flavor, long aging<br /> <br /> <br /></li> <li><strong>Douro Tinto/ Touriga Nacional</strong> (Portugal)– dusty tannins with sweet fruit, violets, leather, tobacco, big tannins<br /> <br /> <br /></li> <li><strong>Alentejo/Alentejano</strong> (Portugal) – for people who like juicy, fruity Cabs with soft tannins. These wines are a blend of Alfrocheiro, Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Castelão, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, and, not surprisingly, Cabernet Sauvignon<br /> <br /></li> <li><strong>Sagrantino di</strong> <strong>Montefalco</strong> (Umbria, Italy)-- Sagrantino grape is full bodied, tannic with earth, cherry,