Cabernet is called the king of wines. The most popular wine is produced all over the world, but only those who have tried the Crimean Cabernet Massandra know what real quality is.
Crimea - a fertile land for winemaking
As soon as the ancient Greeks landed on the northern shores of Pontus Euxinus, i.e., in the Crimea, they saw that this land is extremely similar to their homeland. The Greeks began to grow excellent grapes on Crimean solar plantations and make wine out of it, which they successfully sold even to the Metropolis. This happened more than 2500 years ago, and since then Crimea and wine are inseparable.
From the history of Massandra Cabernet
Today, the Massandra winery is known throughout the world, and its products have been awarded numerous medals, grand prix cups and super grand prix.
The history of the plant dates back to the 19th century, when Count Mikhail Vorontsov ordered the estate to be improved in Alupka and planted, according to European tradition, vineyards.
Then the estate was bought into the imperial treasury. The wines made began to arrive at the royal table, and in order to increase the prestige of local products, they invited the then-famous winemaker Prince Lev Golitsyn. He did not become modest and equipped a high-tech plant and storage facilities with a total length of 7 km for 1 million rubles. Today it is not only a plant, but also 4 thousand hectares of constantly updated vineyards located from Sudak to Foros, several branches, many branded stores, including in Moscow.
About 60 brands of wine are produced by Massandra, one of the best cabernet among them. In total, about 10 million bottles are bottled annually at the plant.
Wine Characteristics
The drink is classified as still wine. Launches the winery "Massandra" dry red cabernet in 3 versions:
- ordinary;
- vintage;
- Export Collection Cabernet.
Ordinary is made according to the classical technology accepted in the world: a mixture of previously crushed berries is fermented. It uses exclusively local Cabernet-Sauvignon grapes grown on its own plantations on the southern coast of Crimea. Sugar content - not more than 3 g / l. The amount of alcohol is 9.5-13%. Ordinary wine is very tart due to the high content of grape seed and peel in the raw material.
Vintage is created from a blend of high-quality grape varieties Cabernet-Sauvignon and Tsimlyanskoye. Such wine must pass aging in oak barrels for 2 years, due to which it acquires a noble fruity aroma and taste, which is revealed gradually. The alcohol content is 11%.
The wine, intended for export and produced with the label Export Collection Cabernet, has an alcohol content of 13%, a delicate, persistent, velvety taste. In the photo is the wine "Cabernet Massandra" in the export version.
Taste qualities
Tasters do not tire of finding beautiful epithets, describing the taste of a refined drink.
Dry "Cabernet Massandra" pleases with a rich, diverse taste with a long and pleasant aftertaste.
Taste palette allows you to feel first fruit and berry shades. In the first glass you feel fullness, an average level of astringency, but not the density of the drink. In the future, the taste of wine becomes more smooth, soft, rich, rounded.
The finish is persistent, astringency is enhanced.
The taste feels better if you give the wine in the glass the opportunity to stand for several minutes.
Young wine has harsh taste tones, mature cabernet calmer.
Beauty color
Wine is usually stored in dark glass bottles to preserve its color. But in the transparent glass you can immediately see the rich color palette of the noble drink, confirming its authenticity and difference from the powder counterpart.
If you raise the glass to the light, it is easy to see: “Cabernet Massandra” shimmers with dark red, ruby tones with the transition to garnet color. Professionals even note the presence of purple and golden colors.
Such a rich color in the wine appears due to the dark purple hue used in the process of fermentation.
Scent
Wine "Cabernet Massandra" - one of the most striking in aroma. The original bouquet does not allow confusing this wine with any other.
Ordinary cabernet gives a slight smell of dressed leather. Vintage envelops the delicate aroma of black currant, diluted with the smell of young cedar. In a noble drink, notes of green pepper are necessarily present, depending on the grape harvest, aromas of violets, cherries, blackberries, and blueberries may be present.
It is necessary to take into account that the falsified fragrance that has not passed aging in oak barrels smells like alcohol additives that are not required for real grape wine.
How not to make a mistake when buying a real Cabernet Massandra?
There are drinks that scammers are extremely fond of, and among them cabernet. By producing excellent wines, the Massandra factory seeks to protect its reputation by developing a series of protective measures.
Any consumer can check what kind of bottle he is holding. What is the difference between branded bottles that contain the Cabernet Massandra brand?
- The bottle itself. Volume is always 0.75. Made of dark glass. On the concave bottom, the letter "M" is extruded.
- Bung. Made from natural balsa wood, which is purchased in Portugal. 1894, the year the plant was founded, is printed on one or both sides of the cork.
- Sealed cork with shrink wrap. On the film, the abbreviation marks the brand of wine and the date of bottling.
- The label is printed on textured paper, the background color varies for different wines. The main factory building is printed on the label center and the name of the wine brand is written. The date of bottling is printed above the image of the plant. On top of the label “cap” is written the full name of the enterprise with a gold stylized stamp.
- Counter label. Decorated in the same style as the label on the same paper. Above is the inscription "Massandra" and the name of the wine is indicated.
Of course, to buy wine in a trustworthy store, a specialized boutique or directly at the enterprise - this is the best opportunity to avoid fake.
Useful properties of cabernet
In the 1960s, doctors found that cabernet is a very healthy drink. Wine was introduced into the diet of divers and polar explorers. It turned out that a small amount of dry red wine can lower cholesterol and, thanks to the high content of tannins, helps to remove various toxins from the body, including radionuclides.
In the 70s, cabernet belonged to the category of strategically important materials that could not be exported abroad.
A few tips: how to drink cabernet
Any wine requires compliance with certain rules when serving and choosing accompanying dishes. It is in this case that it will fully reveal its aroma and taste and give bliss.
Dry red wine "Cabernet Massandra", due to its acidity, goes well with a variety of meat dishes, including quite fatty ones:
- fried meat (beef, pork, lamb);
- cutlets;
- chops;
- bird;
- grilled meat and barbecue;
- paste;
- lasagna;
- pizza;
- pilaf;
- all kinds of cheeses;
- nuts.
Cabernet dishes are served at the table. The optimum temperature for dry red wine does not exceed +18 o , in the summer it is customary to cool wine to +14 o . Wine should be chilled in the refrigerator. An open bottle should stand for 10-15 minutes, so that the wine begins to "breathe" - evaporate, the wine aroma intensifies.
For cabernet it is necessary to use glasses with straight walls or tapering up. The glass of the glass must be transparent so that the color of the beautiful drink is visible without interference.
Pour wine should be up to half a glass, leaving room for aroma.
Smoking while consuming Cabernet is not worth it - the smell of tobacco kills the wine taste and aroma.
Reviews of lovers and professionals
Vacationers in the Crimea do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the unsurpassed taste of this cabernet. This can be done by purchasing wine in the Massandra company branded stores or at tastings that take place after a tour of the halls and vaults of the plant. Many take Massandra Cabernet from their vacations, reviews of which are left on the winery's website and in the wish book.
The company regularly participates in various exhibitions, receiving prizes and medals for its products. Professional tasters also appreciate the excellent quality of the cabernet, designed for enjoyment and relaxation.