"Est vieilli le meilleur" (aged is best). This is the name of the game with cabernet sauvignon. That's because the secret to cabernet sauvignon's prowess as a wine of choice is a meticulous aging process.

Cabernet sauvignon is a red wine varietal that hails from the wineries of the famed district of Medoc in Bordeaux, France. According to studies conducted in 1997, cabernet sauvignon is the result of interbreeding sauvignon blanc and cabernet franc.

A glass of young and fresh cabernet sauvignon is resplendent of black currants and is very tannic. As the precious liquid ages, it gets hints of cherries, blackberries, ceday, bell peppers, green olives, pimientos, green peppercorns, and ginger.

You may also recognize the parfums of cedar, eucalyptus, leather, a cigar box, oak, earth, and chocolate emanating from this blood-colored elixir. Further downing a shot of cabernet sauvignon causes you to identify more saveur of coconuts, vanilla, musk, smoke, sweet wood, toast, and mushrooms.

These flavors and fragrances get more pronounced as the cabernet sauvignon advances with age. Truly, est vieilli le meilleur.

A very versatile grape, cabernet sauvignon, adapts well to being planted in many different regions around the World. This grape makes the reference reds that other wines are compared to. Mixed with merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot in the Bordeaux regions of Medoc and Graves this grape makes the archetypal red wine. A wine that exists at a peak of refinement and allusiveness which few other wines can match.

Its life span after a good vintage can extend twenty or thirty years and beyond.

In California The cabernet sauvignons possess an enormously tannic and alcoholic wine barely tamed by its oak barrels. Their grandeur is unique and affords real aging potential where the wine takes on a chocolate softness.

For sheer drinkability cabernet sauvignon from Chile is hard to beat. The plum and mulberry fruit undertones have a purity and exuberance rarely matched from cabernet sauvignons of other countries.

Cabernet Franc is one of the leading varietals of red wine produced in Bordeaux, France. Cabernet Franc has a peppery aroma and fruity flavor that is more delicate than its close relative, the Cabernet Sauvignon. Depending on the place of production and the specific wine making process, Cabernet Franc may also exude aromas of tobacco, raspberry, and cassis. It has a lower tannin level and has a distinct blueberry/raspberry flavor. Cabernet Franc is usually mixed with other varietals of wine like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. In recent times, wine producers have increasingly sold Cabernet Franc as a stand alone varietal.

Aside from the Bourdeaux region, Cabernet Franc is also produced in the Loire Valley. Other countries such as Argentina, the Balkan states, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, Romania, and South Africa also produce Cabernet Franc. Of particular interest is the ice wine made from Cabernet Franc in Canada. Ice wine is a type of dessert wine made from grapes that were frozen while still on the vine.

Merlot is perhaps the cause of joy for many red wine lovers like myself. To find out more about this medium-bodied variety, I went to Medoc, a region in France popular for its red wine industry. This region was where Merlot grapes were first regularly planted, making Merlot a local variety by the beginning of the 19th century. I also learned from the same trip that this variety is known for its grapes that are lighter in color compared to Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

A glass of Merlot is definitely one of my favorite things in life. Aside from the fact that I salivate everytime I smell its aroma, this luscious darling is full of fruity flavor that strongly reminds me of my grandma's classic plum pie. It may not be as rich as a glass of Syrah but it can definitely soothe my senses. If a glass of milk can do wonders for a growing kid, then a glass of merlot can do wonders for my tastebuds.

Pinot noir grape may be quite difficult to cultivate and vinify, but it produces the finest wine in the history of mankind. Originally from the region of Burgundy, France, pinot noir is now grown and cultivated in several places outside of scenic France such as Austria, Australia, Chile, Canada, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Moldova, Switzerland, and the United States. Specifically, Oregon vineyards has thus far become one of the most successful planting fields of pinot noir primarily because of their exceptional climate that so well matches the grape's nature.

Pinot noir wine, a light-colored red wine, is aromatic and flavorful, suggestive of black cherry, tomato, raspberry, strawberry, cinnamon, mint, and mushroom. It is velvety in texture and seductive in nature, and may typically go well with any food because of its versatility. And in fact, any meal becomes extra special with a bottle of pinoit noir wine and a romantic toast.

The Syrah is a spicy and intense purple wine that fully reflects its combined French and Middle Eastern origins. It is also called Shiraz in South Africa, Canada, and Australia. Syrah is full bodied and has a rich and chewy texture with aromas that exude of chocolates, berries, espresso, and black pepper.

Syrah is primarily produced in Australia, the Rhone Valley in France, and the US. In Australia, Syrah production is prominent in the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and the Clare Valley. Syrah produced from these regions are extremely full bodied and have high alcohol content.

French Syrah has a diverse character and style. Syrah produced from the Hermitage region has a tannic texture and flavor while Côte-Rôtie Syrah has a fruity and fragrant nature.

In the US, Syrah is primarily produced in California and Washington state. California Syrahs have varying character depending on the climate and environmental conditions in which the vines were grown. Syrah is often mixed with other Rhone varietals in the warmer regions of the US.