20 Red Wines Under $20 > Nat’s Conscious Coupling of Quality and Price

Toasting, selective focus, canon 1Ds mark IIII’m always making lists of wines for different occasions and different price points.

Ever since my second book, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search for the World’s Best Bargain Wines, was published, I’m frequently asked for the best wines priced less than $20.

Here they are … I’ll be updating this list monthly. (My thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow for the inspirational title ;)

Here’s your shopping list showing your closest liquor stores that have these wines in stock, and how many of each bottle. Cheers!

Big Number 1aOscar’s Estate Vineyard Shiraz Viognier 2011 Oscar's Estate Vineyard 2
Barossa Valley, South Australia   $17.95

This could be the ultimate hamburger wine! Full-bodied, generous, juicy and crowd-pleasing: it’s ready to …

Oscar Shiraz Wine Review and Rating

 

Famille Perrin Les Sinards 2

Big Number 2Famille Perrin Les Sinards 2011 Wine Review
Châteauneuf-Du-Pape, Rhône A.C., France  $19.95

Oodles of flavour and character packed into a compact package — this is the half bottle size of this terrific red wine from …

Famille Perrin Les Sinards Wine Rating and Review

 

Big Number 3Maipe Reserve Proviva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Mendoza, Argentina  $18.95Maipe Reserve Proviva 2

Wow! What an expressive red wine! Juicy black plums and berries waft up from the glass, wrapped in a lovely shall  …

Maipe Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review and Rating

 

Big Number 4aValdemar Inspiración Selección 2010Valdemar B
Rioja D.O.C.A., Spain  $17.00

This DOCA appellation wine is complex and layered with aromas of dark fruit, smoke and savoury notes of bacon. It’s a blend of …

Valdemar Inspiración Tempranillo Wine Review and Rating

In Situ Gran Reserva B

Big Number 5In Situ Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Aconcagua Valley, Chile $18.95

Full-bodied with tarry black fruit and a tannic grip. The grapes are grown in vineyards at the foot of the…

In Situ Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Rating and Rating

Keint-he Winery B

Big Number 6Keint-he Winery Voyageur Pinot Noir 2012
V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario  $18.00

A lovely, silky medium-bodied red wine with attractive aromas of fleshy berry and …

Keinte-He Pinot Noir Wine Review and Rating

 

Pepin Conde DBig Number 7aPepin Condé Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region W.O., South Africa

Full-bodied with a tannic grip. Pleasantly bitter back fruit including blackcurrant and cassis, the signature …

Pepin Conde Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review and Rating

Sister's Run Epiphany Shiraz B

 

Big Number 8Sister’s Run Epiphany Shiraz 2011
Mclaren Vale, South Australia  $15.95

Concentrated pleasure with dark depths of fleshy black plums and blackberry fruit. What a package, especially for this price. Winemaker Elena Brooks apparently wears…

Sister’s Run Shiraz Wine Review and Rating

Alta Vista Atemporal Assemblage A

Big Number 9Alta Vista Atemporal Assemblage 2011
Mendoza, Argentina  $19.95

This rich red wine offers pleasant notes of black fruit, dark chocolate and smoke. Atemporal translates to  …

Alta Vista Malbec Wine Review and Rating

 

Benmarco B

Big Number 10Benmarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Mendoza, Argentina  $18.95

Classic cassis and blackcurrant aromas in this robust red wine from one of Argentina’s best winemakers. Savoury, juicy and full-bodied. Great…

Benmarco Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review and Rating

 

Sterling B

Big Number 11aSterling Vintner’s Collection Merlot 2011
United States  $15.95

Lovely mocha and espresso on the nose of this full-bodied classically made Californian Merlot. Fleshy black plums and blackberries. Smooth and…

Sterling Merlot Wine Rating and Food Pairings

 

Porcupine Ridge B

 

Big Number 12Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2012
Swartland W.O., South Africa   $14.95

A robust red with very attractive fleshy dark fruit, pepper and toasty oak. Great balance and price. Layers of…

Porcupine Ridge Syrah Wine Rating and Food Pairings

 

Marques De Casa B

Big Number 13Marques De Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Puente Alto, Chile  $18.95

This blackberry liqueur wine is brought to us by Concha y Toro. Loaded with dark fleshy ripe…

Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review and Rating

 

Fiore Babaresco B

Big Number 14aUmberto Fiore Barbaresco 2009
Piedmont, D.O.C.G., Italy    $17.00

Tart, mouth-watering acidity on this vibrant Italian red wine makes it an excellent companion to tangy dishes and tomato sauces. Medium-bodied, with…

 

Umberto Fiore Barbaresco Wine Rating and Food Pairings

 

Malivoire A
Big Number 15Malivoire Gamay 2012
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada  $17.95

This VQA Gamay wine is winning lots of converts over to the beauty, complexity and yet absolute lightness of this varietal. Perfect for…

 

Malivoire Gamay Wine Review and Rating

2011_Balance_PinotNoir Niagara College

 

Big Number 16Balance Trek Vineyard, Niagara College Teaching Winery Pinot Noir 2011
Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada   $18.95

Total cherry berry, plump, fleshy, round pinot noir. No traction or grips on the palate: it just…

 

Niagara Teaching College Pinot Noir Wine Review and Rating

Mission Hill A

 

Big Number 17Mission Hill Five Vineyards Cabernet Merlot 2008
Okanagan Valley, V.Q.A., British Columbia, Canada   $16.45

Smooth with a medium- to full-bodied weight. Fleshy ripe plums and blackberries with a smoky finish. Bring this bottle to…

 

Mission Hill Cabernet Merlot Wine Rating and Food Pairings

Columbia Crest B

 

Big Number 18aColumbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States   $17.95

Coffee, mocha and dark chocolate on the nose from toasty oak aging. Fleshy blackberries and round, black plums on the palate of this delicious…

Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review and Rating

 

Wolf Blass B

Big Number 19Wolf Blass Barossa Valley Red Label Shiraz Cabernet 2011
South Australia, Australia   $14.95

This full-bodied red wine offers incredible value for the money! Vanilla-cherry and cool mint on the nose, followed…

 

Wolf Blass Shiraz Cabernet Wine Review and Rating

 

Callabriga A

Big Number 20Callabriga 2010
Douro D.O.C., Portugal   $17.95

A lovely, mind-awakening red wine with aromas of ripe plums and blackcurrant. Full-bodied. This D.O.C. wine is…

LCBO Product: 682591
Alcohol: 13.5%

Callabriga Wine Review and Rating

 

 

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Bottle and glass of red wine

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