14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon is a nice red wine from the Columbia Valley in Washington State, USA. It’s the third red I’ve had from this vineyard.
This wine is primarily a Cabernet Sauvignon. However, it is blended with some additional varietals include Merlot and Syrah.
Alcohol content of 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon is 13.5% by volume.
Per the bottle, this wine “features the bold characters of black currant, dark cherry and espresso with hints of spice. Perfectly balanced for a smooth finish that makes this wine a great dinner companion.”
If you would like to see other related reviews, check out my reviews of the 14 Hands Hot to Trot Red Blend and also the 14 Hands Merlot.
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting
In the glass this wine appears plum in color. It’s fairly dark with very little light shining through the wine.
It’s a leggy wine. Some fell fast and some fell slow. The wine heavily coated the inside of the glass when swirled. This led to an expectation that 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon was to be a heavy Cabernet.
This wine came across as very aromatic. Aromas of dark cherry, earth and a hint of spice were noted. The alcohol was noticed in the breathe out, however it was not overwhelming.
Taste of the 14 Hands Cabernet was a bit complex. The immediate taste was of smooth juice with no strong burst of flavor. That was immediately followed by subtle black cherry and the advertised mocha flavors. The wine is not dry at all, perhaps due to the blending. Also, it is not a heavy Cabernet.
Mouthfeel was milky and very smooth.
Tannins were round, stable and non-overwhelming. Feeling was noticed mostly on the inside of the cheeks and also in front of the lower teeth.
Finish of the 14 Hands Cabernet was medium in duration. The smooth nature of this wine endured in the finish.
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon price $10.99.
Overall, the theme to this wine is smooth and drinkable. If you are a strict Cabernet Sauvignon fan, you will immediately notice that this wine is a blend. In my estimation this wine is a sipper on its own. I believe it would also pair well with a variety of cheeses. Enjoyable!
what about 2013???
Very good wine…Stock it up
I’m new to the wine world so I’m always looking up reviews before I purchase. I love that I was able to discover all of the statements you made to be true. Helps me as I learn. By the way, loved this wine. Was a great way to end my night.
Thanks Sarah. Glad I didn’t lead you astray!
There is a huge difference between the 2010 and the 2011. Stick to the 2010 if you can find it!
Nice review… Kroger in Virginia is now stocking the 2010 Cab, on sale for 10.00. Just picked up a bottle. I agree it’s smooth and drinkable- and has a decent amount of complexity. A good buy indeed.
Damn good cab!!!! Can’t wait too try others from this vineyard!!!
Jon, Thought you might like to know that the December issue of Consumer Reports rates this cab sauv a best buy, meaning a great wine at a great price. I haven’t had their cab sauv, but I definitely intend to now.
Thanks for sharing that with us, J.W. So far I’ve liked the 14 Hands wines I’ve tried. Consumer Reports is a great magazine that does a great job steering consumers in the right direction, in my opinon. I’m always impressed with the amount of testing they do on all the products they review. Thanks again… Cheers!
Has slipped a bit each year since the Consumers review
But just had first 2014 Will not be coming back for more
Good to know… Thanks for sharing, Doug!
Yeah, I just finished a great bottle from 2012 and having about one glass left I brought home a 2014 to see how it compared. WOW…it was not the same wine as the 2012. The 2014 had a very off-putting smell right out of the gate and I just never got past that initial smell to even really taste it. I googled it just now to see if I got ahold of a bad bottle or if others had the same experience with the 2014.
Going back to Walgreen to buy up some more of the 2012 though.
Tom – Thanks for sharing your experiences with two different 14 Hands vintages.
Everyone benefits… Much appreciated!