Thursday August 29th is National Cabernet day. So for all my wine lovers out there, I have a very special post. While Mr. Mixx is predominately a spirits guy, I do appreciate Wine and what it brings to the spirit world. It is a very complex study and while I have some wine knowledge, for this post I brought in my very special friend Tanisha "Girl Meets Glass" Townsend,

Tanisha, along with being a good friend of mine, and a Chicago native, is a Washington, DC based wine & spirits educator. She also has a excellent wine blog, aptly named., Girl Meets Glass. Her goals are to make spirits and wine education available to all, from the in home novice, tot he most trained accomplished spirits professionals. Tanisha has quite a few wine education credentials, and you can check her out at www.girlmeetsglass.tumblr.com

So since today is National Cabernet day, I could think of no one more essential than her to drop a few jewels on us all about Cab.. Here are her thoughts on Cab and a few things you may not have known.. Enjoy....

Cocktail Thought Of the Day
What is Cabernet?


I took a Cab to the Left….

Is the line I used to remember the difference between Left Bank and Right Bank wines of Bordeaux, France. Cabernet Sauvignon is the predominant grape in the blends from the Left Bank. I passed that particular exam years ago, but when I think about Cabernet Sauvignon, I always think back to that simple sentence.


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The Left Bank gets its name due to the fact that they vineyards lie on the lefts side of the Gironde, an estuary that runs through Bordeaux. Haut-Medoc and Medoc are the main sub-regions of the left bank. These regions produce Cabernets with high levels of astringency and tannins, but the addition of Merlot and Cabernet Franc lends some complexity and softness. Left Bank Bordeaux will age 5-10 years before showing any signs of mellowing out. And will then keep for years after that with new layers and flavors deepening in the bottle.

Also note that the most expensive wines of Bordeaux come from the Medoc region, mainly as a result of the 1855 Classification. This classification divided the 61 chateaus into First Growth, Second Growth, Third Growth, Fourth Growth, and Fifth Growth. A recent search for a First Growth Bordeaux Chateau Latour found the lowest price at $1500 for a 2008!


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But don’t fret my friends, all Bordeaux are not that expensive! There are some much more affordable examples with just as much texture and tannins, and not nearly as much price tag.


Chateau Saint Sulpice

Earthy and oaky on the nose moving into dark berries on the palate. May be a bit tight upon opening, swirl this one in your glass a bit as to not miss out. Pairs well with meat and pasta dishes.

Chateau La Cardonne

A bit dusty at first, but the ripe berry fruit is there mid-palate. Then comes the tobacco and acidity bringing up the rear. Enjoy this with steak.

Barons de Lafite Rothschild Reserve Speciale

Deep ruby red in color with smoky, toasty and spicy notes on the nose. Give this one a good swirl in the glass to reveal the blackberry and blackcurrant aromas. The soft, velvety tannins and chocolate hit you right at the finish.



I know this gave me some new insight into the world of Cabernet. It's much more complex than I initally thought and Im glad to have a friend like Tanisha who can break down to me and help me to expand my knowledge into the wine world. For those of you who want to know more about Tanisha and wine here is where you can find her ---

Twitter- @GirlMeetsGlass

She is #MrMixologistApproved and look forward to hearing from her on my blog again...

Cheers,

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist