Why Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect wine for winter hygge
Longing to curl up in front of a cosy fire with a delicious glass of red? Our wine columnist Helena Nicklin (aka Winebird) explains why Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect pick for winter hyyge.
It’s safe to say that it’s now officially chilly enough to fully embrace hygge: the Scandinavian concept of cosiness, comfort and contentment.
Is there a wine that’s hygge in a glass though? Yes. It’s something that feels like a proper cuddle; a big pair of big arms wrapped around you.
The red grape that gives you ‘hygge’ is Cabernet Sauvignon.
Why Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect winter wine
Cabernet Sauvignon is the pro rugby player of wine grapes. Imagine them chunky and chiseled with arms like cedar trees, covered in dark purple bruises.
Put a mint leaf over a certain area and give them a blackcurrant to hold instead of a ball and you have your Vinalogy for Cabernet Sauvignon right there!
You have the forwards who pack a bigger punch and the backs who are lighter on their feet, but whichever position they play, whichever country they play for, you can always tell a pro rugby player a mile away.)
Tasting note
Dark purple, heavy, concentrated and brooding, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar and sometimes, mint, Cabernet stains your teeth and has lots of tooth drying tannin that simply cries out for steak. (Watch the Vinalogy Video.)
Take the Cabernet Sauvignon tasting tour
Most places with a bit of sun can make half decent Cabernet nowadays; it’s a pretty forgiving grape.
Australia in particular though makes some great value, juicy Cabernets, usually in a big and bold style (the forwards rather than the backs!).
For almost cartoonish Cabernet full of blackcurrant and mint, try one from Coonawarra in the East. For a more elegant, mineral version however, head to Western Australia. For amazing value, I liked this one:
- WM Morrison, Western Australian Cabernet – Morrisons £7
California makes famously upmarket Cabernet Sauvignons, though you have to remortgage for the very best ones. For a fraction of the price, I liked this silky, plummy version:
- The Show Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 – from M&S £12 (available in cases of six)
France is Cabernet’s spiritual home; Bordeaux specifically. Here, the wines will normally be blends and on the left bank of the river, the dominant grape will usually be Cabernet.
It’s hard to get a really good one without spending a fortune, but I was impressed with this aged Grand Cru for under £20:
- Chateau Saint Pierre Grand Cru Classé 2011 – from Aldi £19.99 (available in cases of six)
Winebird is a freelance writer, presenter and author of VINALOGY: wine basics with a twist! You can follow her on Twitter, and find her on YouTube.
