14 Hands Vineyards - Cabernet Sauvignon @@@ (3 corks)

Retails:  $9.97 (Walmart)

I'm joined this evening in writing this blog by my boyfriend, the charming, witty, and handsome writer from Tap-Ins.  Patrick's task this evening was to select a bottle of wine that I had not yet blogged about for the purpose of doing a joint review, something I have yet to attempt.  And so, we can blame Patrick if the wine isn't thoroughly palatable.  He is not a wine drinker.

This bottle has a slightly pungent scent, "smells like other reds I've had," notes Patrick, "it lies to you, it does not represent the taste to come."

This evening's menu included my famous turkey meatballs, jar o' sauce and penne noodles, followed by a coconut custard pie.  Don't ask, the pie just sounded like a great idea -- and it was -- but I digress...

Throughout the duration of this bottle, the conversation flowed as effortlessly as each gulp of this solidly satisfying wine.  OK, Patrick disagrees, this wine is not satisfying, he would describe as mundane.  But he doesn't really drink wine, so, take that assessment with a grain of salt; "which is what this wine's special ingredient appears to be;" oh, such a comedian.

The conversation lazily meandered from animation to Zeppelin, Led.  We discovered that we both solidly agree that "Grateful Dead is for stoners." "The Doors were overrated." "Our high school friends were solidly divided between Pink Floyd fans and devoted Led Zeppelin fans.  Pink Floyd being far too trip-y for general enjoyment without a substantial amount of invested time or drugs."  However, we also discovered that "Led Zeppelin and The Beatles were the source of all modern music that is good."  And we are such experts in determining the good from the bad when it comes to aural experiences, without question, clearly.

But, again, I digress...

"What do you get? I get the smell and the initial taste from the smell but it quickly drowns out into what the label describes as 'espresso.'  I taste a hint of bean, but it transcends into a...rubbery after taste...as if I'm gnawing on a Michelin."

"The taste is solidly on the back of my tongue.  I can taste a little espresso as the bottle promises, however, and this could be just because I'm PMS-ing, but I taste a little chocolate. I like it.  I smell stone fruit (cherry)."

"It isn't that it's bad...I just expected more uniformity."

"But..wine isn't supposed to be uniform."

"Right, but I didn't expect it to veer off the path so...harshly."

"I'm partial to the thin viscosity of this bottle, there's no harsh enduring aftertaste, in my opinion.  I don't taste Michelin, but then again I've never gnawed on a tire before, either..."

"I'm sure you've had rubber in your mouth..."

Dirty, this one is.

"Tastes like...burning...like new car smell on crack."

Colorful descriptors.

"After it's swallowed, the 'happiness' prior to being swallowed, is there.  It's like a chocolate covered cherry. I dunno, I don't like wine blogging." (Mimes throwing computer off the dining room table.)

Well, that was a fun experiment.

Bottom line : Solid bottle, not exceptional but certainly not a total disappointment.  Patrick's ability to blog about wine is as adept as my ability to talk about sports, but I dig him anyway.