Debut of ‘Twelve Dollar Bottle’

So I’ve had this idea in my head for a while now…

The idea is for some wine loving NON wine connoisseurs to start doing reviews (of sorts) of cheap bottles of wine. How fun would it be for a group of folks who like wine but aren’t “wine snobs” (for lack of a better term) to review bottles of wine that cost $12 or less?! Most people like wine. Most people don’t like spending a ton on it. And most people would appreciate a wine review from an everyday person who isn’t a wine critic.

All of that is what gave me idea to start a column called TWELVE DOLLAR BOTTLE.

After talking about this idea with my family for several months, we finally made it happen. I went to my favorite vino shop and snagged several bottles of red that cost $12 or less per bottle, one of which was a bottle of 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon.

This past Sunday, we reviewed it.

Before we go any further, I’d like you to meet the six reviewers:

Mister President
Mister President is my dad Lee. (I like calling him Leedrick. It just sounds so… Downton Abbey.) He’s the president of a family trucking company (SO proud of him!!) and is probably the most seasoned red wine drinker in the bunch. Obviously because he is my dad, he has several years on 2/3 of us.

The Heart-Of-Gold-Housewife
This would be my mother Mary. Although she doesn’t technically work, she is always extremely busy with helping someone out, rescuing a stray animal (even if it’s considered to be “gross” by the general public. Aka… possums…), or doing something sweet for someone. This woman has a heart of freaking GOLD and is the most seasoned white wine wine-o of the group!

The Legal Counsel
Mr. Attorney is my husband Price. He is big lovable teddy bear who is super smart, wickedly cute, and works hard billing all his hours during the week. He’s a somewhat recent convert from beer over to wine, so he gives a fresh perspective on a good glassa grapes.

The Corn Bagger
The Corn Bagger is my darling twin brother Jordan. Although we were womb buddies and went to school together for yeeeeears, our career paths have taken us in two completely different directions. He is now the CFO/tech guru/midnight corn bagger at a grain elevator in the Mississippi Delta. And I am a stationery designer/social media person/writer. See what I mean when I say different? One thing we definitely have in common, though, is that we enjoy a good glass of red.

The Shoe Shop Fashionsita
This is probably the reviewer that my regular blog followers know the most about! Katie, my sister in law (married to The Corn Bagger), owns the most adorable shop in Ridgeland: Arco Avenue. It’s a women’s shoe and accessory shop with the dreamiest of inventory!! Katie, too, enjoys a glass of wine, particularly when it’s cool outside and we’re all sitting outside around a good fire. And of course, she always looks extra cute while sipping her glass because, well… That’s sort of her thing!

The Blogging Paper Girl
This would be me: Laurel. I love to blog (obvi), and I love beautiful paper products!! Since I design my own line of stationery, I’m all up in the paper world and have a passion for all things of papery gorgeousness. (I also love me some pretty furniture thanks to my social media position at the always fabulous SummerHouse!) I’ve liked wine since… College. And I plan to expand my wine horizons more and more as life goes on! It’s my goal to be a down to earth “wine snob” by the time I’m 40 (if that’s even possible…) Cheers to wine education!

Ok now that you’ve met all six of us, here are our thoughts on the 14 Hands Cab Sav that I mentioned earlier! This is the [edited] transcript of our conversation after we all took our first sip at the same time…

The Heart of Gold Housewife: Bongo Drums.

(I know what you’re thinking. WHAT? I thought the same thing. But hang on.)

The Legal Counsel: …That was NOT my first thought… Have you tried it yet?

Housewife: Yeah, I have!

The Blogging Paper Girl: Smooth and fruity!

The Shoe Shop Fashionista: I was thinking sweet and almost kinda caramel or something… caramely…

The Corn Bagger: It ignites my ulcer.

Paper Girl: You got a mouth ulcer?

Corn Bagger: Mmmm hmmm…

Paper Girl: I have one too. But this isn’t affecting it… So, daddy, how does it taste after you’ve been smoking a pipe?

Mister President: I taste honey.

(Forgot to mention earlier… 4 out of 6 of us are smoking either a pipe or a cigar during this tasting!)

Corn Bagger: It is dark fruit heavy, I believe.

Legal Counsel: Smooooothe… It doesn’t even taste like wine!

Paper Girl: It’s not super strong. It doesn’t even really taste like a Cab to me.

Fashionista: I like it though! I think it’s really good.

Paper Girl: It is really good. I think it’s a good accompaniment to a cigar. You know that Jam Jar wine we used to buy? It tastes a lot like that!

Legal Counsel: It tastes a lot like that Sweet Shiraz we used to buy.

Paper Girl: That would be the Jam Jar, honey.

Corn Bagger: It does moisten the exhale.

Fashionista: I would buy that.

Housewife: Yes, I would too…

Paper Girl: So mama, why did you say “bongo drums” early on…?

Housewife: Because your palette is initially sweetened and then you get a percussion of a less sweet reaction through the roof of your mouth, which is pleasant. So it’s… Bongo drums!

(and… scene.)

Here’s a recap: Bongo drums, smooth, fruity, ignites mouth ulcers apparently, sort of un-cab like, honeyish, caramelish. Overall, we liked it! If you are a hardcore cab fan, though, this might not be your fave.

Winery: 14 Hands
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Columbia Valley, California
Year: 2010
Cost: $11

So that was TWELVE DOLLAR BOTTLE. We already have several other bottles in the lineup to review. But if you have a favorite cheap wine, comment and let me know what it is! I’ll start a list and we will eventually get to everything anyone recommends.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as we did! Until next time…

Have a GREAT weekend!!