Standing Up for Cabernet Sauvignon

The article argues for a renewed appreciation of Cabernet Sauvignon, pushing back against claims from some wine drinkers that they “almost never” drink it or aren’t “much” of Bordeaux drinkers. The writer says perceptions have shifted since the 1980s, when cabernet and Bordeaux gained major prominence, and that criticism was once concentrated in influential wine publications. Much of the dislike today, the author argues, comes from one particular style—heavy, oaky, high-alcohol, and fruit-forward—rather than the grape itself. The piece notes cabernet’s scale: most widely planted red grape globally and the best-selling red varietal in the U.S., while suggesting younger consumers increasingly favor other styles.