Cabernet Sauvignon grapes tend to support hotter climates and are often an ideal wine for ageing, with 5-10 years (though some can be left to age much longer) being optimal so that the process of maturation makes a point. Since the tannins (a natural preservative found in grapes skins and seeds) take a little longer to reach maturation a good ageing makes it possible their taste to soften. This is usually the case with many of the finer Cabernet wines but some are designed to consume younger. Cabernet Sauvignons are the ideal candidates to mix with other grapes, mainly merlot. Having such a mixture softens the Cabernet, adding attractive fruit flavor blending, without sacrificing its inherent structure.
