How to Serve a Good Bottle of Cabernet
Cabernet sauvignon and its parent, cabernet franc, are 2 of the classic wine grapes of France's Bordeaux region. Cabernet sauvignon in particular is valued by winemakers around the world, because it is relatively hardy and produces wines with a distinctive character even in less-than-optimal conditions. Good-quality cabernets are among the world's finest wines, able to age for decades. Modern wine-making leans to less-imposing wines that lend themselves to drinking within a few years. but even these benefit from some skill in presentation. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Suit the wine to the occasion. If you are investing in an unusually good wine, don't serve it with a large or heavily spiced meal. Instead, keep the focus on the wine and serve it with a few quality artisanal cheeses and breads.
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Open the wine at least 20 to 30 minutes ahead of time, if it has significant tannins. Your wine merchant should be able to tell you how much airing it will need. Some wines require extra-long airing time or decanting to soften their tannins and open up the flavors.
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Serve the wine at the correct temperature. Well-aged Old World cabernets should be served at temperatures of up to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, while younger, fruitier, New World cabs can be served 5 to 10 degrees cooler. If the bottle is too warm, chill it in an ice bucket for 1 or 2 minutes.
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Select proper glassware. A standard 5-ounce "pour" should not fill the glass more than 1/3 of the way. Choose glasses that are wide at the bottom, to air the wine, but narrow at the top to focus flavors on the nose. Most leading manufacturers have glasses designed specifically for cabernet.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to get together regularly for wine with a group of friends, think about providing pencils and paper for everyone to make their own tasting notes.
If you haven't already done so, cultivate a relationship with a knowledgeable salesperson at one of your local wine stores. A competent staffer will remember your preferences, and will soon be able to make recommendations based on what you've previously enjoyed.
Don't automatically reject wines with artificial corks or Stelvin closures, better known as screw caps. Some very good wines now come in bottles without a traditional cork.
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