1/2 (Extra glass for not tasting like a raisin graveyard)
Uh oh, another 2017 on the label…I had immediate concerns. Eight years old? That’s practically ancient in grocery store wine years. And $9.99? A bit steep for a gamble. But the name….it reminded me of Clash of the Titans (which I loved) so I had to give it a try. I half expected it to smell like a retirement home for grapes — stale, sad, and reminiscing about “the good harvest of ‘09.” First sniff? Not great. Kind of like the wine just woke up from a long nap and wasn’t ready to face the day.
But plot twist — I was wrong. Once it aired out and accepted its fate, it was pretty darn good. Medium oakiness, like it spent just enough time in a barrel to have a dramatic backstory.. Dry, but not so dry that my tongue shriveled up like a raisin. And bold? Oh yeah. This bad boy is rocking a mighty 14.5% ABV, so sip wisely or prepare for a surprise emotional TED Talk about how much you love your dog.
Now, my only mistake? Pairing it with a Cobb salad. A freaking Cobb salad. My wife, bless her heart, thought leafy greens, ham bits and hard-boiled eggs were a worthy match for a wine called Titan. Spoiler: They were not. Every sip felt like my taste buds were in an argument. This wine wanted steak. It deserved steak. Instead, it got lettuce. Because nothing says “perfect wine pairing” like blue cheese and hard-boiled eggs. It was like trying to pair a leather jacket with Crocs — confusing and vaguely offensive.
As for shelf life? Who knows. It’s probably on borrowed time, but so am I, and I still make it work. It’s holding up now, but I wouldn’t let it hang out much longer. Drink it soon, or it might start writing memoirs.
Would I drink it again? Absolutely. But next time, I’ll ditch the salad and find it a worthy opponent. The Titan should get what it deserves — a slab of meat and a little dignity.
Types of Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, who know what else
Fun Juice Level: 14%
Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington
Grocery Outlet Price: $9.99
