For anyone who has ever had a glass of wine with me, they are well aware that my wine of choice is Cabernet Sauvignon. As with many beginner wine drinkers, red wine was never my drink of choice, but as I’ve gotten older and my palate has changed, I’ve become a red girl. I especially love a good bottle of red during the winter months, but that doesn’t stop me from indulging during the summer. So let’s get into this month’s wine of the month.
Winery: Longevity Winery | Wine Maker: Phil Long
Family owned and Black Owned vineyard located in Livermore, CA. Longevity produces a number of wine varieties such as Syrrah, Zinfandel, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, to name a few.
Style of Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon
Most wines are named after the region in which they are produced or the type of grape they are produced from. Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine made from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, a black variety. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world. It’s most successful in warmer climates, which makes it an ideal grape for California.
Type of Wine: Still Wine
Cabernet Sauvignon (Affectionately called “Cab”) is a still wine, not sparkling.
Structural Characteristics: Dry, High Acidity, High Tannin, Full Body, 13.5% alchohol
Dry – Majority of wines are dry. Dry wines have no to very low levels of sugar. The Longevity Cab is in fact dry, but it’s not an intense dryness.
Acidity – Acidity comes from the grape juice but gives the wine a refreshing characteristic. The Longevity Cab has a high acidity level, as most cabernet sauvignon varieties do. If you love your coffee black, then a high acid wine is for you!
Tannin – Tannin comes from the skin of the grapes used to produce red wine. If you have ever experienced headaches when drinking red wine, it’s probably from the tannin. The level of tannin depends on the grape variety used. Longevity Cab has a tannin level that is equal to any other bottle of Cab.
Body – The body is used to describe the feel of a wine in your mouth. Longevity Cab is a Full body wine due to the fact that it is mouth-filling. Full bodied wine can also feel heavy in your mouth and on the tongue.
Alcohol – Majority of still and sparkling wines have an alcohol level between 11.5% and 14%. The alcohol level in the Longevity Cab is at 13.5% which is the average level for most wines. You can find the alcohol level on the back label of the wine bottle.
Aromas and Flavors: Vanilla (oak), Black Pepper, Black licorice, Black Cherry, Plum, Green Bell Pepper
I’m sure many people are curious how wine can have different aromas and flavors when it’s made from grapes. These traits come from the grapes, themselves, as well as development through winemaking and maturation. Determining the aromas and flavors takes work and a great nose, but with practice (sniffing herbs and produce at your local grocery store) you can become quiet good at it.
Aromas and Flavors: The first aroma I picked up from Longevity Cab is Black Pepper. The spice is heavy in this Cab, so there could be other notes of spices that I’m not picking up. I also picked up Black cherry and a little plum. Black licorice is almost ALWAYS in red wine. If you want to impress your friends when wine tasting, if you are tasting a red, your best bet is to always say licorice. 🙂 Red wines are also very often matured in oak which adds vanilla and cedar flavors. There is also a hit of green bell pepper which can be commonly found in a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Storage: Room Temperature, on its side
I store my Longevity Cab on my wine bar on its side. Keep red wine stored at room temperature away from strong sunshine and artifial light. If you’re storing your wine on the top of your fridge, find a new home for it. Heat rises to the top and heat can cause your wine to taste dull and stale. Longevity Cab is sealed with a cork, as a result, I store it on its side to allow the wine to stay in contact with the cork and stay moist. A dry cork can allow air into the bottle resulting in a dull and stale taste.
Serving Temp: 59-64 degrees Fahrenheit
We’ve all heard that red wine should be served warm, however, medium and full bodied red wines, such as the Longevity Cab, are recommended to be served around 59-64 degrees Fahrenheit. When serving the Longevity Cab (mostly to myself) I will chill the bottle for about 15-20 mintues.
How to Purchase:
You can purchase Longevity Cab directly from the winery in person, or online. I’ve purchased directly from the winery when I want to take a relaxing drive to Livermore. When I need a bottle immediately, caise life be lifeing, I go to my local World Market store. Bonus: This bottle will not break the bank. I personally think the price is amazing for the quality.
I hope you will try the Cabernet Sauvignon from Longevity Wines. If Cab is not your wine of choice, let my review at least convince you to give it a try. If not, Longevity Wines definitely has the wine for you. Let me know when you take a sip!
Cheers,
Starr
To Note: I am a WSET Level 1 Certified Wine expert. The opinions are my own backed by certifiable wine knowledge.
