Level 2 · Wine & Spirits Exam Prep
Cabernet Sauvignon
The king of red grapes — Bordeaux, Napa, and beyond.
Topics covered
- Left Bank Bordeaux
- Napa Valley
- Chile and Australia
- Ageing potential
Level 2 Study Guide
Bordeaux-Style Reds
Quick Revision
- Full body, HIGH tannin, high acidity
- Blackcurrant (cassis), cedar, tobacco
- Bordeaux Left Bank: Médoc sub-regions
- Napa Valley: ripe, dark fruit, oaky
- Chile: mint/eucalyptus, reliable value
- Coonawarra (Australia): terra rossa, elegant
Key Facts for the Exam
- Full body, high tannin, high acidity; blackcurrant (cassis), black cherry, cedar, tobacco
- Bordeaux Left Bank: Médoc (Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Margaux, Saint-Estèphe) — blended with Merlot, Cab Franc
- California (Napa Valley): ripe, full-bodied, dark fruit, prominent new oak; "cult wines" (Screaming Eagle)
- Chile (Maipo Valley): reliable, structured, with mint/eucalyptus notes
- Australia (Coonawarra: terra rossa soil): elegant, cedary style
- Ages well: develops secondary/tertiary notes of leather, tobacco, cedar, truffle over decades
Level 2 Exam Tips
- 1.Cab Sauv = high tannin + blackcurrant. These two facts together = automatic recognition in any question.
- 2.Pauillac sub-region of Médoc = Château Mouton Rothschild, Latour, Lafite — classic prestige knowledge.
- 3.Cabernet Sauvignon is a crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc — interesting DNA fact examiners use.
- 4.Coonawarra's terra rossa (red soil over limestone) is a regularly tested terroir fact.
Common Exam Mistakes
- ✗Saying Cabernet Sauvignon is soft or low in tannin — it is the benchmark for HIGH tannin red wines
- ✗Placing Cab Sauv as dominant on Bordeaux Right Bank — Merlot dominates there; Left Bank = Cab Sauv
- ✗Forgetting that Cab Sauv ages very well due to high tannin and acidity — both act as preservatives
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon so expensive?
- Napa Valley has a perfect climate for Cabernet Sauvignon — warm days and cool nights in the valley. The region produces consistently ripe, concentrated wines with high quality. Limited land area, global demand, prestigious reputation, and expensive production costs all contribute to the high prices.