Kabinett, n.
(kabɪˈnɛt)
Also † Cabinett.
[a. G. Kabinett(wein) lit. ‘cabinet or chamber wine’, from its orig. being kept in a special cellar.
Perh. originally from the name given to such a cellar at the monastery of Eberbach in southern Germany.]
A superior grade of wine, esp. German or Austrian wine, made from fully ripe grapes that ferment without added sugar; a wine of this grade, spec. a light wine of controlled quality under the German wine-classification system introduced in 1971 or the similar system effective in Austria since 1973. Also Kabinett wine.
| 1929 P. M. Shand Bk. Other Wines than French iii. 42 In cases where the wine is a selected one..the inscription should terminate with the word Auslese, Goldbeerenauslese,..Edelgewächs, Grosse Spitze, or, in a very few exalted instances, Cabinett. 1957 L. W. Marrison Wines & Spirits viii. 159 A Kabinett wine is one of these ‘ extra-special’ wines, the inference being that it is equal to that put aside for the proprietor's own ‘Kabinett’. 1971 H. Meinhard German Wines iv. 35 The new German wine-law.. was effective from July, 1971...‘Predicates’, or quality designations..begin at the bottom with ‘Cabinet’ (or ‘Kabinett’), and rise..to the pinnacle of ‘Trockenbeerenauslese’. 1974 H. J. Grossman Guide to Wines, Spirits & Beers (ed. 5) vii. 114 Kabinett wines must be made from fully ripe grapes..; the minimum must weight of 75 (or 72 in certain cold areas like the Mosel). 1991 Sun (Baltimore) 18 Aug. g6/4 There were relatively few wines made in the traditional, off-dry kabinett style that matches so well with food. |