Arguably the greatest red grape of France, producing the most majestic age-worthy wines, but also capable of thin and dilute or tough and tannic wine. With its green pepper and blackcurrant character this grape is the master of complexity and forms the backbone of Bordeaux's five First Growths, as well as comprising the majority of most classified 'right bank' wines. Italy's 'Super Tuscan' wines are largely Cabernet based. It is now also producing some of Australia and California's top bottlings, and is proving to be a star another quality producing countries such as South Africa and Chile.