The small, vigorous clusters both bud and ripen late. The berries are small and thick skinned and very blue. The large dramatic leaves and hardy thick wood of Cabernet Sauvignon are similar to it's parent Sauvignon Blanc. Cabernet Sauvignon thrives on well-drained gravel soils and prefers acid and exposure. These are generic growing characteristics of this varietal.  Rootstock selection will impact the production, ripening and growth patterns of any varietal material.

Cabernet Sauvignon wine ranges in aroma from cedar to blackcurrant. The thick skin of the grape creates a high acidity and tannin. Cabernet wines can store longer than most. Due to it's difficulty to ripen, it is often blended with a softer, fruitier half-sibling, Merlot.

Cabernet Sauvignon originates from Gironde in south-west France. The earliest records of the variety are under the name Petit Cabernet in the 18th century. Its parents are Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon derives from the French word sauvage, meaning wild, implying that the variety was domesticated from wild vines in the Gironde area.