The making of a propitiatory in house blend.

One of our favorite things to do at Vintner’s Cellar Bedford is create our own propitiatory in house blends. We have blended 3 Cabernets to create what we call Tres Cabernet. Each Cab brings it’s own characteristics to the mix but cherry is the under laying predominant flavour.

Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the most popular varietals, adds body, plenty of tannins and good acidity. Cabernet Franc is more aromatic and herbaceous than most reds and Ruby Cabernet adds an earthy character.

Read further for the characteristics of each varietal.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is the world’s most widely planted grape, and probably the most famous varietal.  It is grown in almost every major wine region in the world. We now know with DNA testing that Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross between Cabernet Franc, a red grape and Sauvignon Blanc, a white grape. It is a hardy varietal that resists most typical vine diseases and pests. This grape produces full-bodied wine with plenty of tannins and good acidity, qualities required for aging. Blackcurrant is a dominant fruit aroma and flavour, along with cherry and black olive with a hint of soft spices.

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc has only recently come into its own as a pure varietal wine. It is usually a less tannic and acidic wine with a lighter body and color than its off-spring, Cabernet Sauvignon.  Cabernet Franc can lend finesse and elegance to blends and shows these characteristics when bottled on its own known. It is known to be more aromatic and herbaceous than most reds.  The primary fruit aroma and flavour is red cherry with hints of black pepper and other fruity notes of raspberry and strawberry.  Since Cabernet Franc has less tannin, there is often a smoother mouthfeel. Cabernet Franc grapes ripen at least one-to-two weeks earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon and are widely planted in cooler growing regions including southern Canada. 

Ruby Cabernet

Ruby Cabernet is a hybrid cross between Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon.  This grape was developed to combine Carignan’s high yields and durability to thrive in heat with Cabernet Sauvignon’s power and refinement. Ruby Cabernet has become a key ingredient in table wines.  The wine has good color, a pleasant fruitiness, predominately cherry flavour, can be earthy in character and, like most hybrid varietals, Ruby Cabernet wines are not very tannic.  Ruby Cabernet produces good quality, enjoyable red wines.  However, its main use is as a blending component.