Is 14 Hands Cabernet good?
Yes, 14 Hands Cabernet is a good, smooth everyday red for about $11, with ripe dark fruit and a soft, smooth feel that makes it easy to drink.
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon · Cabernet Sauvignon · Washington State · nearly everywhere
- Alcohol
- About 13.5% (some years run a little higher)
- Sweetness
- Dry
- Grapes
- Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with a splash of Merlot
- Made by
- 14 Hands, part of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
- From
- Washington State
- Price
- About $10 to $13
- Calories
- About 120 to 130 in a 5 oz glass, like most dry reds
What it tastes like
Black cherry, blackberry and a touch of mocha and spice. Medium-full and smooth, and it ends dry and gentle.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
Is it worth $11?
Yes, it is a solid value. If you like it, Columbia Crest Grand Estates is a similar Washington Cab with a bit more depth for about the same money.
Who it’s for
For weeknight dinners and anyone wanting an approachable Cabernet that is not too heavy or too sweet. Big-red lovers may want more.
How to serve it
Serve slightly cool, about 15 minutes in the fridge.
The backstory
14 Hands started in 2005 in eastern Washington and grew into one of the state's biggest brands fast. It's part of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (the Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest family), which a Yakima farming family, the Wyckoffs, bought in December 2025. Washington's sunny days and cold desert nights give the grapes ripe fruit but keep some freshness, and a little Merlot in the blend is what makes it feel so soft.
How it compares
- 14 Hands Cabernet vs Columbia Crest Cabernet
Same Washington family and about the same price, but Columbia Crest has a bit more grip and depth; pick 14 Hands if you want softer and easier.
- 14 Hands Cabernet vs Josh Cabernet
Josh is a few dollars more, a touch sweeter-tasting and more vanilla-heavy; 14 Hands is a little fresher and lighter on its feet.
- 14 Hands Cabernet vs Dark Horse Cabernet
Dark Horse saves you a couple of bucks and tastes more smoky and oaky, but 14 Hands is smoother and better put together.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- What does 14 Hands mean?
- It's a nod to the small, tough wild horses that used to roam eastern Washington. A "hand" is how horses get measured (about 4 inches), so 14 hands is roughly 4 feet 8 inches at the shoulder, which is short for a horse.
- Is 14 Hands wine good?
- Yes, for the money it's one of the more reliable everyday reds. The Cabernet is smooth, fruity and dry, and it tastes the same bottle after bottle.
- Where is 14 Hands wine made?
- In Washington State. The winery is in Prosser, out in the Yakima Valley, and the grapes come from vineyards across the dry, sunny eastern side of the state.
- Who owns 14 Hands?
- Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the same company behind Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest. Since December 2025 that company has been owned by the Wyckoff family, longtime Washington grape growers.
- Is 14 Hands Cabernet sweet?
- No, it's a dry red. The ripe fruit and soft texture can read as a little sweet if you mostly drink sweet wine, but there's no real sugar left in it.
If you like this, try
- Columbia Crest CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $12Drink this one
- Josh CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $15Good buy
- Dark Horse CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $9It's fine
Where Moxie recommends it
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with 14 Hands; this is our honest take. Bottle photo: 14 Hands (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates).