My wife is a Cabernet Sauvignon drinker - but she is no connoisseur of wine. Over the last 15 years, I have bought her hundreds of different bottles of CB and noted on my own how much she liked each wine. Over the years I noticed the overwhelming number of CB's she likes are from Chile - although she didn't realize that. In general, her favorites have progressively been getting more expensive, although she does not know what the wines cost. What would a sommelier think about my wife's palate that she likes CB's from Chile best and her tastes have grown progressively more expensive? And what else would you recommend based on what she likes?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
This is an intriguing question that touches on the complexities of individual taste. While it is tempting to try to find objective explanations for our preferences, often it comes down to inexplicable and entirely subjective factors. We could say, on the other hand, that your wife's leaning toward Chilean Cabernet might stem from the attractive fruit qualities and suppleness typically found in most examples. As for her growing preference for more expensive Cabs, it may be due to two different considerations. First, it is quite common for wine drinkers to set higher standards for themselves - often unconsciously - as they gain in knowledge and experience. It would be a mistake, however, to link this phenomenon directly to the cost of the wine. Quality and price are only loosely correlated, and a $50 bottle does not automatically taste twice as good as one for $25. Second, it could be that your wife is showing an appreciation of the greater richness, body and flattering oak treatment which tend to characterize higher grades of Chilean Cabernet. Thinking about other wines she might enjoy, I would say that Cabs from California and Argentina could be good candidates. Has she experimented with other grapes - Syrah, Merlot or Carmenere, for example, or the many blended reds from Chile (often including Cabernet)? The average standard of Chilean wines across varieties is very high, and there is a great deal of choice based not only on the grape but also the region and winery.
