VINTAGE PLAYS THE HITS! Part 1: Cabernet Sauvignon
The progeny of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most famous red wine grape and most planted of any color. One could draw the conclusion from this bit of info that Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine grape in the world. But if popularity were the best indicator of quality, then we would have to admit that Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) by the Eagles (best-selling album ever, 36 million copies sold) and Avatar (top-grossing movie ever, $2.79 billion at the box office) are also the best album and movie in the world. This is a concession that few people with functioning eyes and ears and cerebrums would be willing to make, but yet the numbers don’t lie. Humankind voted with its currency and elevated these respective works to their kingly status.
So, back to Cabernet Sauvignon. Is it really good enough to deserve being the most planted wine grape in the world? This is a tough question to answer, certainly tougher than proclaiming the best album ever (Live at Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash, obviously) or best movie ever (Aliens, duh). Maybe Cabernet is just The Beatles of wine grapes. Chances are you like The Beatles even if they aren’t necessarily your favorite band. Or maybe Cabernet is Caddyshack, an impossible movie to dislike at the end of the day. [And lord knows some of us really want to dislike it. There’s hardly a plot! The actors are barely even acting! It’s just a bunch of people on cocaine saying and doing pretty much whatever they want to! And yet, and yet.] Anyhoo, we’ll dip out of the conversation now and let you talk among yourselves. Buon appetito.
