An under-the-radar value 2006 Veo Grande Cabernet Sauvignon

Friends and family of mine stock this Chilean cab as their "house wine" because, at $7, they laud it as a steal. I shared a bottle among four of these folks, so bear in mind that this is a first-impression review, as I didn't drink my usual allotment. It's a deep, rich red in color; if it were fabric, you'd yearn to touch it. So far so good. There's much less depth, though, on the nose and palate. I detected aromas of dusty young berries and perhaps a hint of cedar; however, my father works in a woodshop and told me I was way off-base. The wine tastes like it smells -- like tart berries that need more time on the vine. Before long, the wine's tannins and tartness began to mellow. Ultimately, this wine earned my respect because it easily held its own against the $16 Zinfandel I drank afterward. It would pair well with unpretentious food. I'd say it's the consummate cheeseburger wine, and that's not an insult in the least.